78 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



and original in his observations, that it is no wonder 

 a man like Stobaeus enjoyed having the youthful zeal 

 and brilliancy about him, encouraging his own drier 

 studies and reinvesting them with the poetry they might 

 have forgotten. 



Now was Rosen's opportunity. We may admit 

 that he really thought badly of his new rival from what 

 he had gathered from Tiliander, who was also honestly 

 entitled to his opinion ; he thought it would be well if 

 the professor's eyes were opened to the fact that he was 

 wasting kindness on a worthless subject. He persuaded 

 himself he could not bear to see the good professor 

 deceived ; for that Linnaeus would disappoint him Rosen 

 felt sure. Those two model young men, Rosen and 

 Tiliander, were never without excellent motives. 



* Do you see, sir, that light in Linnasus's room ? He 

 always keeps it burning very late.' 



' Pooh ! it is nothing.' Stobasus's second thought 

 was, ' I fear the poor boy may feel ill.' 



Rosen sneered politely. 



' It may be so, but he loves company, and people 

 passing his door have fancied they heard the sound of 

 cards.' 



The Rosen doubts crept into the cockles of even the 

 professor's unsuspicious mind when night after night 

 the lamp shone on the trees outside. What a pity if 

 that nice, clever fellow should be tempted into practising 

 what were then called the lighter vices ! He was known 

 to be of a social, convivial turn, and fond of company. 



