But you've got a long time yet before you need begin to worry about it.' The boy drew himself up to his full height, and tossed his tumbling reddish hair back from his eyes.

He was nearly six feet already, with a long, thin body and head which amply justified his school nickname of 'the darning-needle.' 'Don't you trouble either, mother,' he said, with a tone of decision; I don't feel as if I should ever take Orders.' Mrs.Elsmere was old enough to know what importance to attach to the trenchancy of eighteen, but still the words were pleasant to her.
The next day Robert went up for examination, and after three days of hard work, and phases of alternate hope and depression, in which mother and son excited one another to no useful purpose, there came the anxious crowding round the college gate in the November twilight, and the sudden flight of dispersing messengers bearing the news over Oxford.

The scholarship had been won by a precocious Etonian with an extraordinary talent for 'stems' and all that appertaineth thereto.

But the exhibition fell to Robert, and mother and son were well content.
The boy was eager to come into residence at once, though he would matriculate too late to keep the term.

The college authorities were willing, and on the Saturday following the announcement of his success he was matriculated, saw the Provost, and was informed that rooms would be found for him without delay.