I shall not think of offering myself to Mrs.Goddard until after the Tripos." "Offering myself"-- how deliciously important the expression sounded to John's own ears! It conveyed such a delightful sense of the possibilities of life when at last he should feel that he was in a position to offer himself to any woman, especially to Mrs.Goddard.
"I have a great mind not to ask you to come down, even if you do turn out senior classic," said the vicar, still fuming with excitement.

"But if you put off your rash action until then, you will probably have changed your mind." "I will never change my mind," said John confidently.

It was evident, nevertheless, that if the romance of his life were left to the tender mercies of the Reverend Augustin Ambrose, it was likely to come to an abrupt termination.

When the two returned to the society of Mrs.Ambrose, the vicar was still very much agitated and John was plunged in a gloomy melancholy..