“But I like it!” said Mark, mind and eyes deep in his geometry. “Just listen, Gilbert. I do think I see another solution.” “Another solution!” cried Gilbert, in despair. “Just as if one was not enough.” “But it’s so interesting,” persisted Mark. “If you’d only give your mind to it, I’m sure you’d like it; it is so pretty.” “Where’s the good? I’m not going in for a don. I shall scrape through when the time comes, never fear. Hullo! There’s St. Maur and Tullietudlem in a tandem. Splendid, isn’t it? How will Tullie ever get that wild filly of his round the corner? There! I knew it. Down goes the old woman—wagon, Tullie, and St. Maur on the top of her. There’ll be a row!” “They’ll have something to pay, at all events,” said Mark, looking up, but still deep in his problem. “Never a bit. A sovereign to the old woman. She’s used to it. Nothing will ever teach Tullie to handle the ribbons. Never could at Eton; and his sister’s such a splendid whip. I wonder where they were going to! Newmarket, perhaps. St. Maur’s uncle is running a two-year-old. O, bother, Mark! I can’t be worried now. The very look of those figures makes me sick! I shall get up enough to scrape through, never fear. I’m strong in classics.” “All right, old fellow,” said Mark, shutting up his book. “Then you won’t want me. Tell me if you do, you know. I’ll come in any day.” “Thanks, a thousand times. It is no good working against the grain, is it? My head is all in a whirl with that stupid geometry.” Internally wondering at the stupefying effect of the geometry he had not done on his cousin’s brain, but too happy to escape to his own quiet room, Mark Fenner ran with the speed of a lover across the familiar flags, and buried himself until lunch time in his favourite study. At half-past one his friend, John Mildmay, came in for lunch and for a chat; and the lads ate their bread-and-butter and pressed beef, flanked with a jug of college ale, with a keen appetite and much pleasant talk about men and things. The meal ended, they started for their afternoon walk along the banks of the Cam, interchanging many a cheery greeting with friends on land and river, invigorating mind and body by sufficient and temperate exercise, and taking care to be back in time for “chapel,” which they attended in the loveliest of chapels—aëry and exquisite King’s.