THE REJECTED ONE. 331 



me I read for my degree I stood the examinations heavens and 

 earth, I was rejected !" 



The two friends exchanged looks of astonishment, though in a 

 peculiar fashion. 



" Next morning I was far from Oxford. Rouse thee, O Augus- 

 tus I" exclaimed I to myself, " and let not this misfortune over- 

 whelm thee. The Spartan mother shed no tears over her departed 

 son, and why shouldst thou mourn for a paltry degree ? No ! rather, 

 like my sires of old, will I take my father's sword from the wall, and 

 go forth against the enemies of my country to conquer or to die ! So 

 saying, I lighted a cigar. The Blenkinsops have always voted with 

 ministers I had interest at head-quarters I was promissed a com- 

 mission, and I at once purchased my regimentals, and let my mous- 

 tachios increase. ' Never/ cried the enraptured, though alas ! suf- 

 fering tailor, as he gazed upon the martial figure that issued from 

 his hands all scarlet and gold, ' never seed I a gemman vot looked 

 better !' And he spake aright. I felt then within my bosom the 

 ardour which lighted up as with a spell the soul of Anthony, and 

 drove Themistocles to the combat ; and I called to mind the glorious 

 saying of Miltiades, ' Cowards die many times, but a brave man 

 never dies !' " 



A prolonged whistle issued from the lips of the petrified Faucitt. 



Stoker squinted with a horrible obliquity of vision. 



Blenkinsop sighed. 



" My evil destiny again interposed. That very evening I received 

 a letter from the War Office. Fire and steel ! what did I behold ! 

 Cruel Hobhouse ! Relentless Hill ! Implacable Wellington ! My 

 application was rejected !" 



I fixed my useless sebre in the wall, and retiring to the other end 

 of my apartment, prepared to die like Cato ; but the carpet caught 

 my spurs, and I fell prostrate on the ground. I rose an altered man, 

 and sitting calmly down, I drank deeply of thought, and brandy and 

 water cold without. After all, said I, war is a savage pastime ; ,the 

 soldier is but a hireling. So saying, I drew another cork. Life, I 

 resumed, is but short ; thou knowest this well, O immortal Flaccus ! 



" Oh, confound Flaccus !" said Faucitt. 



" Certainly," said Stoken. 



" Yet despair not, Blenkinsop ! Thou wert formed to shine in the 

 court, and not in the camp : surely there is many a beautiful maiden, 

 saturate with silver, who would be proud to be called Mrs. Augustus 

 Blenkinsop I" 



" Miss Emily Pelican was both rich and beautiful ; she had the 

 figure of a Cleopatra, and the mind of a Sappho ! She had published 

 a volume of poetry, called " The Undispairing One of Kamtskatka," 

 and she had two thousand a-year ! Her hair was of the hue of sunset, 

 a rich and glorious crimson, and her eyes were of a pale, etherial 

 green. The first moment I saw her, I loved her ; and hope whis- 

 pered me that she was my affianced bride. I gave a post obit to a 

 wealthy Shylock, Manasseh Ben Melchiseeek, who at cent, per cent., 

 furnished the supplies. Stulty again suffered, and I sported a cab. 

 The sweet Emily received me favourably, add I won the good will 

 of her maiden aunt, by escorting her twice to church." 



