He had then been sure of himself,--that he would do well, and take honours, and win a fellowship.
There had been moments in which he had thought that a college life would suit him till he came into his own property.

But how had all that faded away! Everybody had congratulated him on the ease with which he did his work,--and the result had been Newmarket, Davis, and a long score in the ephemeral records of a cricket match.

As he stood there, with his slouched hat over his eyes, one of the college servants recognised him, and called him by his name.

Then he passed on quickly, and made his way out to the gravel-walk by the river-side.

It was not yet closed for the night, and he went on, that he might take one last turn up and down the old avenue.
He had certainly made a failure of his life so far.