Eight, and no tidings; nine, the boys not come; Tom obliged to go to bed by sheer sleepiness, and Ethel unable to sit still, and causing Flora demurely to wonder at her fidgeting so much, it would be so much better to fix her attention to some employment; while Margaret owned that Flora was right, but watched, and started at each sound, almost as anxiously as Ethel.
It was ten, when there was a sharp pull at the bell, and down flew the sisters; but old James was beforehand, and Harry was exclaiming, "Dux! James, he is Dux! Hurrah! Flossy, Ethel, Mary! There stands the Dux of Stoneborough! Where's papa ?" "Sent for to Whitford.

But oh! Norman, Dux! Is he really ?" "To be sure, but I must tell Margaret," and up he rushed, shouted the news to her, but could not stay for congratulation; broke Tom's slumber by roaring it in his ear, and dashed into the nursery, where nurse for once forgave him for waking the baby.

Norman, meanwhile, followed his eager sisters into the drawing-room, putting up his hand as if the light dazzled him, and looking, by no means, as it he had just achieved triumphant success.
Ethel paused in her exultation: "But is it, is it true, Norman ?" "Yes," he said wearily, making his way to his dark corner.
"But what was it for?
How is it ?" "I don't know," he answered.
"What's the matter ?" said Flora.

"Are you tired, Norman, dear, does your head ache ?" "Yes;" and the pain was evidently severe.
"Won't you come to Margaret ?" said Ethel, knowing what was the greater suffering; but he did not move, and they forbore to torment him with questions.

The next moment Harry came down in an ecstacy, bringing in, from the hall, Norman's beautiful prize books, and showing off their Latin inscription.
"Ah!" said he, looking at his brother, "he is regularly done for.
He ought to turn in at once.