. THE EXAMINATION. 191

self The sense of his ungraciousness
contributed to increase his discomfort;
and when he opened his Homer, at the
beginning of the examination, it was with
a feeling of weariness and disgust, which
augured ill for his performance in it. It
was, perhaps, fortunate for him that his
blunders, on the preceding evening, had
brought him to the foot of his class; for,
had he been set on to construe, at the be-
ginning of the proceedings, he must have
made a complete failure. As, however,
question after question was asked, and
places began to be taken and _ lost, his
emulation was gradually roused. He soon
recovered his position above the boys at
the bottom of the.class; then above seve-
ral more; then above all, excepting
Charles Warbeck; and, lastly, above
Charles Warbeck himself. When it came