‘What is it,’ I said, ‘Robinson pere et fils?’
‘O no,’ he replied, ‘it’s one of the non-poisonous varieties this time.’
However, Blitherington was apparently at fault, for I heard a warning voice behind me saying, ‘I wouldn’t try none o’ that, if I was you, sir,’ and I turned to see our old scout Webster who had apparently been imported for the evening, ‘There’s somethin’ hin the Buttery as might suit you, sir,’ he added. ‘There’s honly heighteen bottles been hordered an them for the Committee, but I dessay as ’ow I can get yer two.’
I clearly saw that this meant a Christmas-box to Webster, but readily assented as one always does on such occasions, and the two bottles were speedily forthcoming.
After supper I had a peaceful waltz with Miss Accrington; and subsequently conducted Miss MacNeill to a dark staircase in the second Quad.
‘It seems to me,’ she remarked after we had mounted a flight and settled ourselves in someone’s rooms, ‘It seems to me that the world is about equally divided between the loved and the unloved, and the great thing is to avoid being in the second class.’
‘Well, of course we know which lot you’re in,’ I replied quickly.
‘That’s very nice of you, Marth—, I mean Mr. Cochrane, but I was just thinking of the terrible number of girls who go through all this kind of thing and linger on to become sour old maids.’
Although at that particular moment I happened to be holding Miss MacNeill’s hand in order to keep it warm, it is quite impossible that that could have been any reason for her squeezing it affectionately, and sighing softly; however, it was very stimulating, and I went on to say,