wishes it;--though very little is ever gained now by a university
connexion.'

'I am to take my degree in October, aunt; and I am determined, at any
rate, that I won't be plucked.'

'Plucked!'

'No; I won't be plucked. Baker was plucked last year, and all because
he got into the wrong set at John's. He's an excellent fellow if you
knew him. He got among a set of men who did nothing but smoke and
drink beer. Malthusians, we call them.'

'Malthusians!'

'"Malt", you know, aunt, and "use"; meaning that they drink beer. So
poor Harry Baker got plucked. I don't know that a fellow's any the
worse; however, I won't get plucked.'

By this time the party had taken their place round the long board, Mr
Gresham sitting at the top, in the place usually occupied by Lady
Arabella. She, on the present occasion, sat next to her son on the one
side, as the countess did on the other. If, therefore, Frank now went
astray, it would not be from want of proper leading.

'Aunt, will you have some beef?' said he, as soon as the soup and fish
had been disposed of, anxious to perform the rites of hospitality now
for the first time committed to his charge.

'Do not be in a hurry, Frank,' said his mother; 'the servants