Did ever you hear of such an old bear ?" "He'll have to come," cried the rest; "let's waylay him here and carry him off." "All serene," said the leader; "he's sure to come here--let's hang about on the stairs." Oh, horrors! here were six noisy men going to establish themselves on the stairs over poor George's head, and remain there until their victim arrived, when, unless college traditions were utterly false, there would certainly be a battle royal.

It was impossible, with the cheering and stamping and shouting and laughing, and scuffling overhead, to do a stroke of work, and yet George did his best.

He pulled his table into the corner of the room farthest away from the noise, and, burying his head in his hands, struggled desperately to abstract himself from the disturbance.

But as sure as he succeeded for a minute, a clamour louder than ever would drive _every_ idea out of his head.

It was vain to attempt expostulation--what would these jubilant revellers care for a poor new man like him!--and he had nowhere else to go to escape them there was nothing for it but to be patient.