"But very prudent." "Uncommonly so." "An excellent young man," exclaimed Leslie; "I think very highly of Horace Vinal." Morton cast a sidelong glance at him, and there was a covert smile in his eye. He began to see a weak spot in his companion. "He will certainly make his way in the world," pursued Leslie. "No doubt of it." "He is not so fond of out-door exercises as you seem to be." "He is good at one kind of exercise." "What's that?" "He can draw the long bow." Leslie did not see Morton's meaning, and took the words literally, as the latter intended he should. "What, have you an archery club at college?" "No; but there are one or two among us who use the long bow, now and then, and Vinal beats them by all odds. But he is very modest on the subject, and never alludes to it. In fact, there are very few who know his skill in that way." "It is all the better for his health to have some amusement of the kind." "Yes, it would be a pity if his health should suffer." "I have often thought that his mind was too active for his constitution." Morton cast another sidelong look at Leslie. Though he admired the daughter, he refrained with difficulty from quizzing the father. "You seem to know Vinal very well." "Yes, thoroughly; I have known him from childhood; he is the son of my wife's sister, and I am his guardian. I watch his progress with great interest." "You will see him, I dare say, reach the top of the ladder. At least, it will be no fault of his if he does not." "I am very glad to hear my good opinion of him confirmed by one who has seen so much of him." And, rising, he left the room. "A very good young man, this seems to be," he thought to himself, as he did so. "Amiable, good natured, and all that; but very soft, for a man who has seen hard service," thought Morton, on his part. The party reassembled in the inn parlor. Masters William and Marlborough, having gained a reprieve from their banishment, busied themselves at the table, the one in poring over Brewster on Natural Magic, the other in solving a problem of Euclid. Leslie viewed these infant diversions by no means with an eye of favor, and soon banished the students to a retirement more suited to their tender years. The sentence overcame all their philosophy, and they were carried off howling.