steps they joined
the rest of the gown, now numbering some twenty men. The mob was
close before them, gathering for another rush. Tom felt a cruel,
wild devil beginning to rise in him; he had never felt the like
before. This time he longed for the next crash, which happily for
him, was fated never to come off.

"Your names and colleges, gentlemen," said a voice close behind
them at this critical moment. The "town" set up a derisive shout,
and, turning round, the gownsmen found the velvet sleeves of one
of the proctors at their elbow and his satellites, vulgarly
called bull-dogs, taking notes of them. They were completely
caught, and so quietly gave the required information.

"You will go to your colleges at once," said the proctor, "and
remain within gates. You will see these gentlemen to the
High-street," he added to his marshal; and then strode on after
the crowd, which was vanishing down the street.

The men turned and strolled towards the High-street, the marshall
keeping, in a deferential but wide-awake manner, pretty close to
them, but without making any show of watching them. When they
reached the High-street he touched his hat and said civilly, "I
hope you will go home now, gentlemen, the senior proctor is very
strict."

"All right, marshall; good night," said the good natured ones.

"D--- his impudence," growled one or two of the rest, and the
marshal bustled away after his master. The men looked at one
another for a moment or two. They were of different colleges, and
strangers. The High-street was quiet; so without the exchange of
a word, after the manner of British youth, they broke up into
twos and threes, and parted. Jervis, Tom, and Drysdale, who
turned up quite undamaged, sauntered together towards St.
Ambrose's.

"I say, where are you going?" said Drysdale.

"Not to college, I vote," said Tom.

"No, there may be some more fun."

"Mighty poor fun, I should say, you'll find it," said Jervis;
"however, if you will stay, I suppose I must. I can't leave you
two boys by yourselves."

"Come along then, down here." So they turned down one of the
courts leading out of the High-street, and so by back streets
bore up again for the disturbed districts.

"Mind and keep a sharp lookout for the proctors," said Jervis;
"as much row as you please, but we mustn't be caught again."

"Well, only let's keep together if we have to bolt."

They promenaded in lonely dignity for some five minutes, keeping
ey