Reggie parted from the Babe at the station, the latter going to London, and Reggie to Lincolnshire. The Babe travelled first because he said Sykes refused to go second or third, but that intelligent animal, poking his nose out from under the seat just as the guard was taking the tickets, was ignominiously hauled out, and compelled to go in the van, which cannot be considered as a class at all. XXI.--A DAY IN THE LENT TERM. O this drear March month. KINGSLEY. Jack Marsden stopped for a moment under the Babe’s window and called [Illustration: Musical notation: Ba-abe] and the Babe’s face looked out vindictively. “If you call me like that I sha’n’t answer,” he said. “You’re not in Clare.” So Jack went in, and found the Babe curled up again in a large chair, close to the fire, working. The month was February, which is equivalent, at Cambridge, to saying that it was raining--cold, sleety, impossible rain. As the exact day of the month was the sixteenth, it followed as a corollary that it had been raining for at least sixteen days, and, as it was leap year, it would continue to rain thirteen more. “Well?” said the Babe unencouragingly. He had gone to bed early the night before, and the consequent length of the morning made him rather cross. “Oh nothing. It’s raining, you know. The _Sportsman_ says that Jupiter Pluvius is in the ascendant still.” “He sends the snow in summer, He sends the frost in May To nip the apple-blossoms, And spoil our games of play,” quoted the Babe. “Just so, and he doesn’t neglect to send the rain in February. I’ve just come back from King’s. Reggie’s in a bad temper, almost as bad as you.” “Why?” “Weather, chiefly. He says it would be grovelling flattery to call it beastly.” “Reggie is given to making truisms,” said the Babe turning over the page. “Jack, I wish you’d go away. I want to work. Besides, you’re so devilish cheerful, and I’m not.” “Sorry to hear it. Oh, yes, and Reggie told me to remind you that you are playing tennis with him at twelve. He’s got the New Court.” The Babe brightened up: there was an hour less of morning. “Hurrah! that will suit me excellently. Many thanks, and please go away. Good-bye.”