Page:Lesbia Newman - Dalton - 1889.djvu/307

 same, and you’d see the whole flight of us if you came to Ousebridge. This is the college uniform.’

‘Well, I will say that the process of changing the sex of gurls is a beautiful one.’

‘Developing the sex of girls, not changing it, Julius. Perfect womanhood includes, not differs from, masculine attributes.’

‘Jove! that is thundering queer, bai Jove!’ said Julius, endeavouring to make his moustache bear the weight of the new idea, by vigorously twirling the former. ‘But I say, Miss Newman, do you go in for such masculine attributes as smoking and billiard rooms, for instance, at Ousebridge?’

‘Yes, everything; come on visitors’ day in term-time, and I'll show you over. But now let me see if you recognise a former acquaintance of mine,—that girl leaning against the rope, the taller of the two in uniform.’

‘Miss Blemmyketts an Ousian! She! Never should have thought it!’ exclaimed Julius.

‘Yes,’ said Lesbia; ‘her friends thought it worth while to lose her company for the sake of the education. They haven’t fixed up anything in Yankeeland yet to equal Ousebridge, although I’ve no doubt they will, and perhaps beat us. But come and talk to her.’

‘Yes—a—presently, with pleasure—but I just want to say a word to a fellow over there.’

Julius made his escape, and Lesbia crossed over alone.

‘Guess that young masher’s afraid of me, eh, Lesbie?’ said the American, who had observed the move. ‘Most of the sort are.’

‘Yet he’s not a bad sort either, Letty,’ replied her friend. ‘He has no brain to spare, but what little he has is malleable.’

‘Ah! I’m glad you’ve not forgotten us, Mr O’Logan,’