He little thought, as he did so, how he resembled his father, but his friends remarked upon it, chuckling.

So far, in his high place above his fellow-students, he seemed set beyond the possibility of any scandal; but his mind was made up--he was determined to fulfil the sphere of his offence.

He signed to Innes (whom he had just fined, and who just impeached his ruling) to succeed him in the chair, stepped down from the platform, and took his place by the chimney-piece, the shine of many wax tapers from above illuminating his pale face, the glow of the great red fire relieving from behind his slim figure.

He had to propose, as an amendment to the next subject in the case-book, "Whether capital punishment be consistent with God's will or man's policy ?" A breath of embarrassment, of something like alarm, passed round the room, so daring did these words appear upon the lips of Hermiston's only son.

But the amendment was not seconded; the previous question was promptly moved and unanimously voted, and the momentary scandal smuggled by.