The Argosy — page 178: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Heads or Tails? 163 The steering was admirable. St. Stephen’s came along as straight and as steadily as though the most expert cox were giving his whole attention to the work; so did Derby, until within fifty yards of the winning-post, and then, in an unlucky moment, they turned a shade out of their course into the middle of the stream. May be, this slight error decided the race, or they were more rowed out than their oppo- nents ; at any rate, before ever they reached the further winning-post a gun, fired by the umpire, announced that St. Stephen’s had passed the nearer one. The race was won! Then the cheering and shouting and even yelling, of the St. Stephen’s men upon the bank, became almost deafening, even out- of-doors! ‘They threw their caps in the air; they stamped, and waved, and screamed: ‘Well rowed, well vowed / well rowed, Hamilton!” And generally testified their gratification with that young intensity which, alas! we most of us lose all too soon. Violet could hardly refrain from shouting with them, she felt so glad and excited ; and when Derby, according to established etiquette, loitered about for St. Stephen’s to row leisurely by before them, and Dick, from his proud position in the winning boat, looked up deliberately to the barge where she was standing, she felt the blood mount even higher to her cheeks, and her pulses beat quicker and quicker. As soon as ever he could manage it, Dick escaped from the college barge and rejoined the ladies, who were waiting for him. His mother and Montague walked on in front, and, very leisurely, he and Violet followed them through Christ Church meadow, whilst he asked her once again if she could not love him and promise to be his wife. ‘Yes, Dick,” in sweet, faltering tones, ‘‘for you have won me, as assuredly as you have just won the race!” Cecil bore his disappointment well, and in course of time married a studious Girton girl, with whom, if he did not accomplish much for the music of the present, he became a very faithful apostle of the music of the future. And moreover he made her a most suitable hus- band, which he never would have done to Violet Danvers. (CO) CORnniclboooks