"  My  dear  fellow,"  said  Hardy,  stopping  in  the  street,  "you
don't  mean  to  say  you  are  speaking  of  yourself  ?  "

"  I  do  though,"  said  Tom,  "  and  it  has  been  on  my  mind
ever  since  the  beginning  of  Easter  term,  and  has  spoilt  my
temper  and  everything — that  and  something  else  that  you
know  of.  You  must  have  seen  me  getting  more  and  more  ill-
tempered,  I'm  sure.  And  I  have  thought  of  it  the  first  thing
in  the  morning  and  the  last  thing  at  night,  and  tried  to  drive
the  thought  away  just  as  he  said  one  did  in  his  sermon.  By
Jove,  I  thought  he  knew  all  about  it,  for  he  looked  right  at  me
just  when  he  came  to  that  place."

"  But,  Brown,  how  do  you  mean  you  owe  a  hundred  pounds  ?
You  haven't  read  much,  certainly  ;  but  you  haven't  hunted,  or
gambled,  or  tailored  much,  or  gone  into  any  other  extravagant
folly.     You  must  be  dreaming."

"  Am  I  though  ?  Come  up  to  my  rooms  and  I'll  tell  you  all
about  it  :  I  feel  better  already,  now  I've  let  it  out.  I'll  send
over  for  your  commons,  and  we'll  have  some  lunch."

Hardy  followed  his  friend  in  much  trouble  of  mind,  consider-
ing in  himself  whether  with  the  remainder  of  his  savings  he
could  not  make  up  the  sum  which  Tom  had  named.  Fortu-
nately for  both  of  .them  a  short  calculation  showed  him  that
he  could  not,  and  he  gave  up  the  idea  of  delivei'ing  his  friend
in  this  summary  manner  with  a  sigh.  He  remained  closeted
with  Tom  for  an  hour,  and  then  came  out,  looking  serious  still,


316  tOM   BfeOWN  A*   OiS'O&B.
