CHAPTER IV.
A few days later, Carlton, Sheffield, and Reding were talking together after dinner out of doors about White.
"How he is altered," said Charles, "since I first knew him!"
"Altered!" cried Sheffield; "he was a playful kitten once, and now he is one of the dullest old tabbies I ever came across."
"Altered for the better," said Charles; "he has now a steady sensible way of talking; but he was not a very wise person two years ago; he is reading, too, really hard."
"He has some reason," said Sheffield, "for he is sadly behindhand; but there is another cause of his steadiness which perhaps you know."
"I! no indeed," answered Charles.
"I thought of course you knew it," said Sheffield; "you don't mean to say you have not heard that he is engaged to some Oxford girl?"
"Engaged!" cried Charles, "how absurd!"