A number of the students were strolling on the lawn in front of the building. Several scrutinized him closely, but Roland walked steadily forward, with head erect, and firm step. "Here, I say, Charley, what do you think of the new arrival?" said George Stanley to a companion; "extensive trunks, hey!" Roland turned a moment; there was something in his eye that Charley did not relish, and he moved away. At length he reached the President's room, and was directed to be seated. After a short time, a small man, with rather an uninviting aspect, appeared. "What is your business, my boy?" asked the President. "I am seeking an education, sir," replied Roland, in a direct, straight-forward manner. "Who is your father, sir?" "I have none, sir." "Your mother?" "I am an orphan, sir." "Your friends? I mean responsible persons, sir." "I have none, sir." "Your means?" "None at all, but these hands, feet, and head, sir." "I am afraid that we cannot take you." "I will do anything, sir; I will saw wood, make fires, black shoes, anything but cheat, sir. I won't say that I can pay you, as some might promise, for I never can." Dr. Kingsley was an eccentric, but a really noble-hearted man; he had taken one glance at Roland which had interested him, and his questions had been put to try him. He had marked the fine dark eye, the expansive brow, and the sweet, but firm-set mouth; he had listened to the straight-forward appeal of the youth; it brought back his own early struggles, and he felt as if such a boy had a right to an education of the highest order. "Are you aware, my young friend, how trying is the position which you propose? If you are mentally and morally superior, are you willing to be treated as an inferior, and perhaps sometimes scorned?" "I can brush away gnats, sir," replied Roland, with an expressive toss of his hand; "for I am a Scotch boy, with Scotch pride enough to sustain me. If they scorn me for doing right, what care I?" "What is your name, sir?" "Roland Gordon Bruce, sir." "A fine name--the Gordons were distinguished among Scottish martyrs, if I mistake not." "They were, sir; and I trust that I shall never dishonor the name I bear." "You can come, Roland," said Dr. Kingsley, in a softer tone of voice. Roland had endured the hard tone of scrutiny with calmness; but the free consent was more than he could bear. He rose suddenly to his feet, seized Dr. Kingsley's hand, and with a glowing cheek, and eye suffused with feeling, exclaimed-- "Thank you, dear sir; I have no words to express all that I feel." Dr. Kingsley turned his head away, for he did not care that Roland should see his emotion, but continued-- "Where is your baggage, sir?" "It is there, Dr. Kingsley," said the boy, smiling, and pointing to his carpet-bag; "that contains all my worldly goods." "And where are your books, Roland? that is an expensive item," continued the President.