"Then why is he disliked?"
"Well, I don't know. There is something not square, I believe, known to a few of the seniors only. The feeling against him is very strong."
Mr. Talbot rose, and put his watch in his pocket. He always breakfasted with it on the table. "I don't understand it at all," he said; "but I must be going now."
James went to the front door and opened it. Now that he had risen, you could see James Talbot's height. He was already nearly six feet, almost the tallest in the school. The boys were wont to say that the shots had made his legs grow. Mr. Talbot walked away quickly, and a boy, wearing the college cap, came up and accosted James at the door. At the same moment Mrs. Talbot came out in a commotion.
"Oh, James, my letter! Papa was to have posted it in town. Run and give it to him."
"Allow me," said the stranger, raising his trencher to Mrs. Talbot, and taking the letter from her hand. She looked at him, and was struck with the fine character of the attractive countenance—the open candour of the large grey eyes.
"That's Paradyne," whispered James, watching him as he caught Mr. Talbot.
"That Paradyne! Then I am sure—"
But he had accomplished his mission, and was coming back again, laughing at the haste he had made. "Mr. Talbot bade me say he did not know there was any letter to take," he observed to Mrs. Talbot.
"No, I forgot to tell him. Thank you very much."