John Short had almost finished his hard work at college.

For two years and a half he had laboured on acquiring for himself reputation and a certain amount of more solid advantage in the shape of scholarships.
Never in that time had he left Cambridge even for a day unless compelled to do so by the regulations of his college.

His father had found it hard to induce him to come up to town; and, being in somewhat easier circumstances since John had declared that he needed no further help to complete his education, he had himself gone to see his son more than once.

But John had never been to Billingsfield and he knew nothing of the changes that had taken place there.

At last, however, Short felt that he must have some rest before he went up for honours; he had grown thin and even pale; his head ached perpetually, and his eyes no longer seemed so good as they had been.