"What in the world is all this about?" asked Mowbray.
"Oh!" said Hoffland, trying to smile, but failing lamentably, "Mr. Denis is going to kill me!"
And Mowbray felt that the hand upon his arm was trembling.[(Back to Table of Content.)]
CHAPTER XIII.
HOFFLAND MAKES HIS WILL.
When they had reached the open street, and the crowd of curious students were no longer visible, Hoffland, growing gradually calmer, and with faint smiles, related to his companion what had just occurred; that is to say, in general terms—rather in substance, it must be confessed, than in detail. Mr. Denis and himself, he said, had at first commenced conversing in a very friendly manner, the conversation had then grown animated, and Mr. Denis had become somewhat excited; then, at the conclusion of one of his (Hoffland's) observations, he had declared himself deeply offended, and farther, announced his intention of dispatching a mortal defiance to him on the ensuing morning.
Mowbray in vain endeavored to arrive at the particulars of the affair. Hoffland obstinately evaded detailing the cause of the quarrel.
"Well, Charles," said Mowbray, "you are certainly unlucky—to quarrel so quickly at college; but——"
"Was it my fault?" replied the boy, in a reproachful tone.
"I don't know; your relation is so general, you descend so little to particulars, that I have not been able to form an opinion of the amount of blame which attaches to each."