'Strictly it is for his Greats pupils, but I can take you in. It
is hardly meant for freshmen; but--well, you are far enough on to
make it interesting to you.'

'The lad will take to Grey's influence like a fish to water,' thought
the tutor to himself when he was alone, not without strange reluctance.
'Well, no one can say I have not given him his opportunity to be
"earnest."'

The sarcasm of the last word was the kind of sarcasm which a man
of his type in an earlier generation might have applied to the
'earnestness' of an Arnoldian Rugby.

At eight o'clock that evening Robert found himself crossing the
quadrangle with Langham on the way to one of the larger lecture-rooms,
which was to be the scene of the address. The room when they got
in was already nearly full, all the working fellows of the college
were present, and a body of some thirty men besides, most of them
already far on in their University career. A minute or two afterward
Mr. Grey entered. The door opening on to the quadrangle, where the
trees, undeterred by east wind, were just bursting into leaf, was
shut; and the little assembly knelt, while Mr. Grey's voice with
its broad intonation, in which a strong native homeliness lingered
under the gentleness of accent, recited the collect 'Lord of all
power and might,' a silent pause following the last words. Then
the audience settled itself, and Mr. Grey, standing by a small deal
table with the gaslight behind him, began his address.

All the main points of the experience which followed stamped