Take heed and time how you answer us now." At this speech a loud murmur was heard in my uncle's party, which gradually spread round the hall.

I again looked up: my mother's face was averted; that of the Abbe was impenetrable; but I saw my uncle wiping his eyes, and felt a strange emotion creeping into my own, I turned hastily away, and presented my paper; the head master received it, and, putting it aside, proceeded to the verbal examination.

Conscious of the parts in which Gerald was likely to fail, I had paid especial attention to the minutiae of scholarship, and my forethought stood me in good stead at the present moment.

My trial ceased; my last paper was read.

I bowed, and retired to the other end of the hall.