"But how would your grandfather, Dr. Beresford Jones of Beresford Manors, take a visit from a poor adventurer like me?" inquired Victor.
"He will take it very kindly; for he also will ask you to come," said Electra.
"I have told you without reserve how it was that I was so suddenly raised from extreme poverty to wealth, and now--"
"And now you want to know how I came by my fortune?" smilingly inquired Victor.
"The explanation is short and simple enough. I became suddenly rich, as some few other poor vagabonds have, by a fortunate stroke of the pick--by a California gold mine," quietly answered Victor.
And she stopped and put him away from her a step, and stood and stared at him.
Victor laughed. And then they went on, for their companions were at the gates of the University, waiting for them to come along.
They entered the beautiful grounds occupied by the extensive buildings of the University, and where several of the professors, as well as a few of the students who had not yet left for the vacation, were taking their morning walks.
The visitors were soon met by Dr. Jones and Alden Lytton, who came up together to welcome them.
After the usual greetings, Alden introduced his party to several of the professors, who received them with great courtesy, and attended them through the various buildings, pointing out to them the most notable objects of interest, and entertaining them with the history, statistics and anecdotes of the institution.
They were taken into the various libraries, where they saw collected vast numbers of the most valuable books, among which were a few very unique black letter and illuminated volumes of great antiquity.
They were then led into the several halls, where were collected costly astronomical and chemical apparatus.
And finally they visited the museum, filled with cabinets of minerals, shells, woods, fossils, and so forth.
And after an interesting but very fatiguing tour of inspection, that occupied four hours, they were invited to rest in the house of one of the professors, where they were refreshed with a dainty lunch, after which they returned to the village.
And the evening was spent socially in Mrs. Wheatfield's drawing-room.
In the course of that evening they were surprised by a visit. It was from Mr. Craven Kyte, who came to call on Miss Cavendish.