But there was another, an aged gentleman, who sat in the very front seat of the hall, and listened with rapt attention to the two lads as they gracefully took their places, and eloquently and forcibly delivered their addresses. It was Mr. Swinburne, older and feebler by four years now than when Ray had first met him at the university grounds of a neighboring metropolis, but still quite hale and hearty for his fourscore years. What he thought of the lads may be seen by an interview he sought with them a few hours later.
"Young gentlemen," he said, shaking hands cordially with them, "I listened with great pleasure to you to-day. I was even more pleased to learn from your principal the marked position you have held throughout your course of study as followers of Jesus. I have heard of a certain set of resolutions you placed above your study table, on coming to this institution, and thus at the outset of your academic life took a position for the Master which by his grace you have steadily maintained. Now I have a favor to ask of each of you. I understand you will in the fall enter the university of which I am a graduate. I have there, as here, established scholarships to which I still hold the right to appoint the recipients. Two will be vacant at the beginning of the next academic year. May I have the privilege of naming you two young men as the ones who in my humble judgment are worthy to receive their benefits?"
With grateful thanks the two friends accepted the kind old gentleman's offer, and he departed with an air that seemed to imply he had been favored, not that he had conferred a favor.
"Well, chum," remarked Ray, when they were alone, "I do not see but both of us have a fair outlook for our college course. Thanks to our friend Mr. Swinburne, our tuition and room rent are provided for, and only our board and incidentals remain. Surely, with our experience here, we have no reason to falter in the undertaking."
"That is so," said Edward, thoughtfully, "and I think I shall be able to go through college without any help from mother. We have friends in that city, and through them I hope to secure employment for you as well as for myself."
"Always thinking of me, Ned," said Ray, throwing his arm affectionately around his chum; "but we will borrow no trouble. Those same old rules shall go to the university with us; the same principles shall actuate our hearts; we shall look ever to the same Master for his guidance and blessing. Why need we then have any fear? His name to us is Jehovah-jireh—the Lord will provide."
"Amen," said Edward, gently and reverently. And then the two passed out from those academic halls to new duties and a new phase of life.
CHAPTER XXIII.
A SUMMER'S VACATION.
Ray and Edward left Easton on the same train with their Afton and Wenton friends. All, in fact, had taken seats in the same car, and a bright, merry, vivacious company they made. Captain Tom Branford had reversed the seat in front of Mr. Squire and his daughter, and was apparently listening with marked attention to the old general's vehement praise of an institution that had been wise enough to confer its highest honors upon two Afton boys; but in reality he was studying the daughter's fair face with an admiration so manifest she could not have failed to detect it, had she not been engrossed by another matter quite outside of herself. Her thoughts were on her "two boys," as she called them, and remembering what they, by divine grace, had become, she "thanked God and took courage" for those of her class who were still unsaved.