“I hope they won’t have occasion to toll them,” he said; “it seems sometimes much more likely.”
“Ah! that is because you get out of spirits. And after all, who cares except a lot of stupid old tutors?”
“I don’t suppose you—any one, would care much.”
“Why,” said Ruth dexterously; “who judges a man by the result of an examination? that would be very unfair.”
“Then,” said Cherry shyly, “if I come to grief I shall go to you for—for consolation. You won’t despise me?”
“Oh, Cherry! I am sure when one knows life one sees that after all those tests are rather childish. I should not think less of you if you made a mistake.” Perhaps it was characteristic of Cheriton that he felt more than ever resolved to attain success, and he answered,—
“You ought to think less of me if I did not do my best to avoid mistakes.”
“Now that is worthy of Jack, of whom I am becoming quite afraid. I care for my friends because—well, because I care for them, and what they do makes no difference.”
“That,” said Cherry, “is the sort of backing up that would make a man able to endure failure till success came. But still one must wish to bring home the spoils!”
There was a dangerous intensity in Cheriton’s accent, and Ruth laughed gaily.