If this intermittent stream of youths represented them, the English _gioventu_ was not much to boast of.
Next a furniture shop appeared, with wide windows, and a tempting array of wares, and in they went.

Constance had soon bought a wardrobe and a cheval-glass for herself, an armchair, a carpet, and a smaller wardrobe for Annette, and seeing a few trifles, like a French screen, a small sofa, and an inlaid writing-table in her path, she threw them in.

Then it occurred to her that Uncle Ewen might have something to say to these transactions, and she hastily told the shopman not to send the things to Medburn House till she gave the order.
Out they went, this time into the crowded Cornmarket, where there were no colleges, and where the town that was famous long before the University began, seemed to be living its own vigorous life, untrammelled by the men in gowns.

Only in seeming, however, for in truth every single shop in the street depended upon the University.
They walked on into the town, looking into various colleges, sitting in Broad Walk, and loitering over shops, till one o'clock struck from Oxford's many towers.
"Heavens!" said Constance--"and lunch is at 1.15!" They turned and walked rapidly along the "Corn," which was once more full of men hurrying back to their own colleges from the lecture rooms of Balliol and St.John's.

Now, it seemed to Constance that the men they passed were of a finer race.