They were part of the brilliant copy of verses by which Douglas Falloden of Marmion, in a fiercely contested year, had finally won the Ireland, Ewen Hooper being one of the examiners.
"That's what's so abominable," said Alice, setting her small mouth.
"You don't expect reading men to drink, and get into rows." "Drink ?" said Constance Bledlow, raising her eyebrows.
Alice went into details.

The dons of Marmion, she said, were really frightened by the spread of drinking in college, all caused by the bad example of the Falloden set.

She talked fast and angrily, and her cousin listened, half scornfully, but still attentively.
"Why don't they keep him in order ?" she said at last.

"We did!" And she made a little gesture with her hand, impatient and masterful, as though dismissing the subject.
And at that moment Nora came into the room, flushed either with physical exertion, or the consciousness of her own virtue.

She found a place at the tea-table, and panting a little demanded to be fed.
"It's hungry work, carrying up trunks!" "You didn't!" exclaimed Constance, in large-eyed astonishment.