“Oxford train?” inquired a porter, as the hansom pulled up. Michael nodded, and made up his mind to show his esteem when he tipped this promethean.
“Third class?” the porter went on. Michael mentally doubled the tip, for he had neglected to assure himself beforehand about the etiquette of class, and nothing could have suited so well his self-consciousness as this information casually yielded.
“Let me see, you didn’t have any golf-clubs, did you, sir?” asked the porter.
Michael shook his head regretfully, for as he looked hurriedly up and down the platform in search of Alan, he perceived golf-clubs everywhere, and when at last he saw him, actually even he had a golf-bag slung over his shoulder.
“I never knew you played golf,” said Michael indignantly.
“I don’t. These are the governor’s. He’s given up playing,” Alan explained.
“Are you going to play?” Michael pursued. He was feeling rather envious of the appearance of these veteran implements.
“You might have told me you were going to bring them,” Michael grumbled.
“My dear old ass, I never knew I was, until the governor wanged them into my lap just as I was starting.”
Michael turned aside and bought a number of papers, far too many for the short journey. Indeed, all the way they lay on the rack unregarded, while the train crossed and recrossed the silver Thames. At first he was often conscious of the other undergraduates in the compartment, who seemed to be eying him with a puzzled contempt; but very soon, when he perceived that this manner of looking at one’s neighbor was general, he became reconciled to the attitude and ascribed it to a habit of mind rather than to the expression of any individual distaste. Then suddenly, as Michael was gazing out of the window, the pearly sky broke into spires and pinnacles and domes and towers. He caught his breath for one bewitched moment, before he busied himself with the luggage on the rack.
On the platform Michael and Alan decided to part company, as neither of them felt sure enough whether St. Mary’s or Christ Church were nearer to the station to risk a joint hansom.
“Shall I come and see you this afternoon?” Michael rashly offered.
“Oh, rather,” Alan agreed, and they turned away from one another to secure their cabs.