"But never mind, Ethel, if he only beats Anderson, I don't care for anything else." "Oh, it will be unbearable if he does not! Do try, Norman, dear." "Never you mind." "He'll light up at the last moment," said Ethel, consolingly, to Harry; but she was very uneasy herself, for she had set her heart on his surpassing Harvey Anderson.

No more was heard all day.

Tom went at dinner-time to see if he could pick up any news; but he was shy, or was too late, and gained no intelligence.

Dr.May and Richard talked of going to hear the speeches and viva voce examination in the afternoon--objects of great interest to all Stoneborough men--but just as they came home from a long day's work, Dr.May was summoned to the next town, by an electric telegraph, and, as it was to a bad case, he did not expect to be at home till the mail-train came in at one o'clock at night.

Richard begged to go with him, and he consented, unwillingly, to please Margaret, who could not bear to think of his "fending for himself" in the dark on the rail-road.
Very long did the evening seem to the listening sisters.