“You’ve made a conquest, Babe. But you behaved abominably during dinner.” “I couldn’t help it. I could think of nothing but Miss Moffat. On the top of that you enquired about his sister. I ask you, what was I to do?” “You needn’t have danced in the dishes outside,” said Reggie. “I only danced in the soup, and we’d finished with the soup. And there’s a soupçon of it on my--” “Shut up.” “Pumps,” continued the Babe. “May I have some whisky? Thanks. For what I’m going to receive. What a funny undergraduate Moffat must have been.” “I believe he was born like that,” said Stewart. “I know when I came up, ten years ago, he was just the same. That’s the best of getting old early: you don’t change any more.” “That’s one for you, Babe,” remarked Reggie. “The Babe is the imperishable child,” said Stewart. “You called me a man of the world the other day,” said the Babe in self-defence. “I think not.” “You did really. However, we’ll pass it over.” “By the way, Babe, you are corrupting the youth of the college. Two men went into their lodgings last night at ten minutes past two. It transpired that they had been playing cards with you.” “Well, it is true that I was playing cards last night. But they could have gone away earlier if they had wished.” “Your fascinations were probably too strong,” said Reggie. “Now you’re being personal, and possibly sarcastic,” said the Babe with dignity. “I must go to bed. I was late last night.” “The night is yet young, Babe,” said Stewart. “So am I. But if I don’t go, I shall continue to drink whisky and soda, and smoke.” “You are welcome. How is the tripos work progressing?” “Oh, it’s getting on,” said the Babe, hopefully. “A little at a time, you know, but often. I’m not one of those people who can work five hours at a stretch.” “I suppose not. Is it to be a second or a third?” “I believe there are three classes in the tripos,” said the Babe stiffly. “You have only mentioned two. Well, yes, perhaps one of your small cigarettes would not hurt me. But I must go at eleven, because I am sapping. Oh, isn’t that the _Shop Girl_ on the table? There are some awfully good songs in it. May I go and get my banjo?” “Do. I got it expressly for you to sing.” The Babe slept his usual eight and a half hours that night. He did not awake till 10.30. XX.--THE BABE’S MINOR DIVERSIONS. Where three times slipping from the outside edge I bumped the ice into three several stars. TENNYSON.