And, if not,
to go in would be worse than useless. If he were alone, what
should he say? After all, _must_ he go in there? was there no way
but that?

The college clock struck a quarter to seven. It was his usual
time for "The Choughs;" the house would be quiet now; was there
not one looking out for him there who would be grieved if he did
not come? After all, might not that be his way, for this night at
least? He might bring pleasure to one human being by going there
at once. That he knew; what else could he be sure of?

At this moment he heard Hardy's door open and a voice saying
"Good-night," and the next Grey came out of the passage, and was
passing close to him.

"Join yourself to him." The impulse came so strongly into Tom's
mind this time, that it was like a voice speaking him. He yielded
to it, and, stepping to Grey's side, wished him good-evening. The
other returned his salute in his shy way, and was hurrying on,
but Tom kept by him.

"Have you been reading with Hardy?"

"Yes."

"How is he? I have not seen anything of him for some time."

"Oh, very well, I think," said Grey, glancing sideways at his
questioner, and adding, after a moment, "I have wondered rather
not to see you there of late."

"Are you going to your school?" said Tom, breaking away from the
subject.

"Yes, and I am rather late; I must make haste on; good night."

"Will you let me go with you to-night? It would be a real
kindness. Indeed," he added, as he saw how embarrassing his
proposal was to Grey, "I will do whatever you tell me--you don't
know how grateful I should be to you. Do let me go--just for
to-night. Try me once."

Grey hesitated, turned his head sharply once or twice as they
walked on together, and then said with something like a sigh--

"I don't know, I'm sure. Did you ever teach in a night school?"

"No, but I have taught in the Sunday-school at home sometimes.
Indeed, I will do whatever you tell me."

"Oh! but this is not at all like a Sunday-school. They are a very
rough, wild lot."

"The rougher the better," said Tom; "I shall know how to manage
them then."

"But you must not really be rough with them."

"No, I won't; I didn't mean that," said Tom, hastily, for he saw
his mistake at once. "I shall take it as a great favor, if you
will let me go with you to-night. You won't repent it, I'm sure."

Grey did not seem at all sure of this, but saw no means of
getting rid of his companion, and so they walk