下载辰思小说免费APP
Othersweretoostupidtosucceed，orperhapstheirnaturaltalentshadanotherbent，whiletheremainder，bynomeansthemostbrilliant，butwithafacultyforpassingexaminationsandwithoutanydisturbingoriginality，workedhardandsailedintotheirdesiredhavenwithconsiderablefacility，beingofthestuffofwhichmostsuccessfulmenaremade。Fortherest，therewastheopportunity，andiftheydidnotavailthemselvesofitScoones’wasnottoblame。Itwas，andperhapsstillremains，amostadmirableinstitutionofitssort，one，indeed，ofwhichthepresentchroniclerhasverygratefulrecollections。
AmongthepupilsstudyingtherewasayoungmannamedArthurThorburn，anorphan，withconsiderableexpectations，wholivedwithanauntinafineoldhouseatQueenAnne’sGate。Hewasabrilliantyoungman，wittyandoriginal，butrashandwithoutperseverance，whomhisguardianswishedtoentertheDiplomaticService，acareerinwhich，withoutdoubt，hadheeverattainedtoit，hewouldhaveachievedaconsiderablefailure。Inappearancehewasofmediumheight，round-
faced，light-haired，blue-eyed，withaconstantandmostcharmingsmile，ineverywayacompletecontrasttoGodfrey。Perhapsthiswasthereasonofthecuriousattachmentthatthetwoformedforeachother，unless，indeed，suchstrongandstrangeaffinitieshavetheirrootsinpastindividualhistory，whichisveiledfrommortaleyes。Atanyrate，ithappenedthatonGodfrey’sfirstdayatScoones’hesatnexttoArthurThorburnintwoclasseswhichheattended。Godfreylistenedintentlyandmadenotes；Arthurcaricaturedthelecturer，anartforwhichhehadanativegift，andpassedtheresultsroundtheclass。Godfreysawthecaricatureandsniggered，thenwhenthelectureswereovergravelyreprovedtheauthor，sayingthatheshouldnotdosuchthings。
“Whynot？“askedArthur，openinghisblueeyes。“Heavenintendedthatstuffyoldparrot“(hehaddrawnthislearnedmanasadilapidatedfowlofthatspecies)“tobecaricatured。Observethathisnoseisalreadyhalfabeak。Orperhapsitisabeakdevelopingintoanose；
itdependswhetherheisonthedownwardorupwardpathofevolution。“
“Becauseyoumademelaugh，“repliedGodfrey，“wherebyIlostatleasteighteenpennyworthofinformation。“
“Alaughiswortheighteenpence，“suggestedArthur。
“Thatdependsuponhowmanyeighteenpencesonepossesses。Youmayhavelots，somepeopleareshortofthem。“
“Quitetrue。Ineverlookedatitinthatwaybefore。Iamobligedtoyouforputtingitsoplainly，“saidArthurwithhischarmingsmile。
Suchwasthebeginningoftheacquaintanceofthesetwo，andinsomecasesmighthavebeenitsend。Butwiththemitwasnotso。ArthurconceivedasincereadmirationforGodfreywhocouldspeaklikethistoastranger，andatScoones’andasmuchaspossibleoutside，hauntedhimlikeashadow。SoonitwasaregularthingforGodfreytogotodineattheoldGeorgianhouseinQueenAnne’sGateuponSundayevenings，wherehebecamepopularwiththerathermagnificentearly-
Victorianauntwhothoughtthatheexercisedagoodinfluenceuponhernephew。Sometimes，too，ArthurwouldaccompanyGodfreytoHampsteadandsitsmokingandmakingfurtivecaricaturesofhimandMrs。
Parsons，whileheworkedandshebeameda
