The record-union., 1896-07-26

terms of no little abuse, when 1 proposed
that we should inspect the mummies to
be seen in the museum, but to my
amazement he drew back with averted
eyes.
I'D rather not he said shortly; then
seeing my scruples he continued:
You'll think me an awful coward, but
can't bear to look at the things. Once
when l was quite a youngster Rex was
talkin about them, of how old they are
and how long they have been dead, and
it scared me so that I've never gone near
them. / know I'm baby, but, Miss
Ray, 1 dreamt of 'em so that night. l
hate anythin' dead; his eyes looked
dark and troubled as he raised them to
mine; "and I'd rather never think Of
'em even"
Of course l never referred to the sub
Ject again, but / never forgot the
shadow on the merry, fearless, little
face.
l left Oxford with intense regret and
was conducted to the station by Ted,
whom l attempted to thank, as 1 bade
him good-by, for all his trouble.
He lifted his hat gallantly. please
don't mention it, Miss Ray; it has been
the greatest pleasure-'twas holiday,
too,' he added with a flash of child's
laughter; 'and when are you coming
back?' he continued, closing the door of
the carriage and speaking through the
window. The train began to move, but
L leaned out to call back, ITO see you in
your college boat" and then 1 lost sight
of him for long, long time
Ill
The next two years, you know,
changed everything for me entirely My
marriage, and then Archie's regiment
being ordered to India, seemed to sep
arate me altogether from the Ormes,
and as Mrs. Orme is a very bad corre-
spondent, heard very little of them for
nearly eight years. At the end of that
time, however, we were ordered to Ed
inburgh, which was very nice, for YOU
see Arches people live there and we
were eager to show Lassie to them all:
she's the only granchild, you know.
One day, soon after landing, Harry
Orme walked in upon US. His mother
had noticed the arrival of our regiment,
and had sent word to Harry, who is set
tied in Edinburgh, to search me out.
1t was perfectly delightful to see the
young Oxfordonian again, and / over
whelmed him with questions about his
people One of my first was: And Teddy
how tall is he now?'
Harry laughed: Not nearly to my
shoulder" was the prompt answer. but
as he is cox Of st. Brides, little St.
Teddy is as scared of growing or gain
ing pounds weight as he used to be
eager for it. Had you heard of his ill
ness?'
OF course I had heard nothing, and
Harry continued:
He was overworking himself, about
two years ago, at all sorts of athletes,
and broke down completely. The doc
tor said it was something wrong with
his heart, told him he must give up all
violent exercise, fatty forbade tennis,
running, rowing, and such, and nearly
broke poor Ted's heart in good earnest
He was awfully plucky about it, though,
but / can't tell you, Miss Ray-beg par
don, Mrs. Moncrieff, l mean-how pa
thetic the poor little chap used to look,
in the midst of all the talk of cricket
and rowing that always goes on at
home, you know, especially just then,
as Phil and Jack were both at Jesus. ST.
Teddy devoted himself to Greek, but it
was an awfully half-hearted sort of de-
votion, though he's really the cleverest
of the lot, if he only cared for work He
pretended he was getting to like it, and
that it wasn't half killing him to enter
st. Bride's-it's a crack crew, you know,
rather hopes to be head of the river
this May-and not be able to take his
share Of the fun. ] rather suspected 1t
was sham all along, and when he wrote
last term that he'd been made cox any
one could see how he really felt Why,
he seemed half cracked with delight,
and the mater writes they can half
plague the life. out of him by telling him
he's growing or getting stout"
"And his Greek?' 1 asked.
Harry grinned: Rather allowed to
slide, I fancy"
Then he asked me when I was going
to England, and gave me hearty invi-
tation from his mother to come to them
for the third week in May. OF course l
accepted. Lassie and I were going south
in May, and the idea of being at the
Eighths again delighted me beyond
measure.
we ulu uOl dlleT all, HldHdSe 10 get
up for the first three days of the races,
however; it was on the Saturday after
noon that we reached Oxford; Lassie
was asleep and had to be awakened as
the train stopped, SO Mrs. Orme was at
the carriage door before we alighted.
She was not a day older in appear
ance, and it did sound too funny to hear
her say: And this is your little daugh-
teri" During all my English visits last
year I was constantly startled by the
sight of Lassie running about. 1t was
to remember that l was her
mother. Everything else was so like
what it had been years before. Before
we had uttered more than the first
greetings Mrs. Orme began:
I'm just from the river. Too bad you
couldn't be there; we have had such an
exciting three days. ST. Brides has
made a bump every day, and has got
to the head of the river to-day after
such an exciting race with Magdalen.
Teddy will be off his head, do believe.
I never even hoped that st. Brides
would be at Magdalen, never!"
She was excited as any one over it all,
and her excitement was most infectious;
we talked of nothing else all down the
High, across Magdalcn Bridge, and out
into the country, and it was so like the
old days over again.
Will was at home, for the first time in
ten years, and Rex, Phil and Jack were
gathered on his account, so the house
was very lively. Lassie was in her ele-
ment. She was accustomed to queening
it over all the young subs in Simla, and
was soon on intimate terms with the
young men. Rex had brought one of