had deplored seemed to have
clambered arduously into the Upper Fifth just to enrage him with the
sight of their industrious propinquity. There they sat with their
scraggy wrists protruding from shrinking coat-sleeves, with ambitious
noses glued to their books, with pens and pencils neatly disposed for
demonstrative annotation, and nearly all of them conscious of having
figured in the school-list with the printed bubble of the Oxford and
Cambridge Higher Certificate beside their names. Contemplating them in
the mass, Michael scarcely knew how he would endure another dusty year
of school.

"And now we come to the question of the Homeric gate--the Homeric gate,
Fane, when you can condescend to our level," said Mr. Cray severely.

"I'm listening, sir," said Michael wearily.

"Of course the earliest type of gate was without hinges--without hinges,
Fane! Very much like your attention, Fane!"

Several sycophants giggled at this, and Michael, gazing very earnestly
at Mr. Cray's benign but somewhat dirty bald head, took a bloody revenge
upon those in reach of his javelin of quadruple penholders.

"For Monday," said Mr. Cray, when he had done with listening to the
intelligent advice of his favourite pupils on the subject of gates
ancient and modern, "for Monday the essay will be on Patriotism."

Michael groaned audibly.

"Isn't there an alternative subject, sir?" he gloomily enquired.

"Does Fane dislike abstractions?" said Mr. Cray. "Curious! Well, if Fane
wishes for an alternative subject, of course Fane must be obeyed. The
alternative subject will be An Examination into the Fundamental
Doctrines of Hegelian Idealism. Does that suit Fane?"

"Very well indeed," said Michael, who had never heard of Hegel until
that moment, but vowed to himself that somehow between this muggy Friday
afternoon and next Monday morning he would conquer the fellow's
opinions. As a matter of fact, the essay proved perfectly easy with the
assistance of The Popular Encyclopedia, though Mr. Cray called it a
piece of impudence and looked almost baleful when Michael showed it up.

From this atmosphere of complacent effort Michael withdrew one afternoon
to consult Father Viner about his future. Underneath the desire for
practical advice was a desire to talk about himself, and Michael was
disappointed on arriving at Father Viner's rooms to hear that he was
out. However, learning that there was a prospect of his speedy return,
he came in at the land