These three men were bound together by many an orgie, many a shady intrigue and modest swindle; they had no illusions about each other, but now they all felt a keen pang of regret that their little society was to be broken up.
Gobion went out feeling sorry, but he had too much to do to indulge in sentiment. He hoped to turn his twenty pounds into forty before lunch.
As he went into the High, bells were ringing, tutors hurrying along, and men going to lectures in cap and gown. A group of men in "Newmarkets" came round the corner of King Edward Street, going to hunt, and nearly knocked down Professor Max Müller, who was carrying a brown paper parcel and walking very fast. The Jap shop-girl in a new hat passed with a smile, and a Christchurch man and rowing blue came out of the "Mitre," where, no doubt, he had been looking over the morning paper, and gleaning information about his own state of health. The scene was bright and animated, and the winter's sun cast a glamour over everything.
Nearly every other man stopped and spoke to Gobion, and he felt strangely moved to think that he would soon be out of it all and forgotten.
He turned into the stable-yard of the "Bell," and stood there for a moment irresolutely, frowning, and then with a quick movement went into the private bar.
It was quite empty of customers, and a girl sat before the fire with her feet on the fender reading a novel.
She jumped up when Gobion came in, and he put his arm round her waist and kissed her. She was a pretty, fresh-looking girl, and would have been prettier still if she had not so obviously darkened her eyelashes with a burnt hairpin.
Gobion sat down on the chair, and pulled her on to his knee, smiling at her, and puffing rings of cigarette smoke at her.
She settled herself comfortably, leaning back in his arms, and began to rattle away in a rather high-pitched voice about a raid of the proctors the night before.
As is the habit of the more "swagger" sort of barmaid, she used the word "awfully" (with the accent on the aw) once or twice in nearly every sentence, and it was curious to hear how glibly the Varsity slang and contractions slipped from her.
He played with a loose curl of hair, thinking what a pretty little fool she was.
"Maudie dear, I'm going away."
"Do you mean for good?"
"I'm afraid so, darling."
She opened her eyes wide and puckered up her forehead. She looked very nice, and he kissed her again.
"I don't understand," she said.
"Well, the fact is the guvnor has stopped supplies, and I'm sent down."
"And you're going to leave me?.. and we've had such an awfully jolly time … oh, you cruel boy!"
And she began to sob.
He grinned perplexedly over her head.
"… Never mind, dearest, I'll write to you and come down and see you soon."
"I don't know what I shall do… I l-liked you s-so much better than the others… Don't go."
"But, Maudie, I must. Look here, I will come in after lunch and arrange things properly. I'm in a fearful hurry now, and I shan't go till to-morrow."
"Really!"
"Oh, rather; now give me a B. and S. I really must depart."
She got up from his knee, and went behind the counter in the corner of the room.
"I'm going to have some first," she said.
"You're a naughty little girl!"
"Am I? you rather like it, don't you?"… She looked tempting when she smiled.
"May I?"
"You've had such a lot!"
"Just one to keep me going till after lunch."
"Stupid boy; well, there – "
"That was ve-ry nice. Good-bye for the present, dear."
She made a little mock curtsey. "I shall expect you at two … dear!"
He kissed his hand and shut the door, breathing a sigh of relief when he got outside.
"She won't see me again. I'm well out of that," he thought, his cheeks still burning with her hot kisses.
"Now for the worst ordeal."
Father Gray came out of the private chapel of the clergy-house in his cassock and biretta.
He had been hearing the somewhat long confession of an innocuous but unnecessary Keble man, and felt inclined to be irritable. He met Gobion going up to his room.
His pale lined face lighted up – most people's faces did when they saw Gobion.
"You here, dear boy? Come in – come into my room."
He opened the door, and went in with his hand on Gobion's shoulder. The room was panelled in dark green, and warmed by a gas stove. The shelves were filled with books, and books littered the floor and chairs, and even invaded two big writing-tables covered with papers. Over the mantelpiece was hung a print of Andrea Mantegna's Adoration of the Magi. On the wall opposite was a great crucifix, while underneath it was a little shelf covered with worn black velvet, with two silver candlesticks standing on it.
Behind a green curtain stood an iron frame, holding a basin and jug of water.
All the great Anglican priests had been in that room at one time or another.
From it retreats were organized, the innumerable squabbles of the various sisterhoods settled, and arrangements made for the private confession of High Church bishops who required a tonic.
In fact, this business-like little room was in itself the head-quarters of what that amusing print The English Churchman would call "the most Romanizing members of the Ritualistic party."
They sat down. Father Gray said, "You have something to tell me?"
"Yes," Gobion answered sadly, "I am ruined."
"Oh, come, come! What's all this? A boy like you can't be ruined."
"My father has put the last touch to his unkindness, and quite given me up. You know how I have tried to work and lead a decent life; but he won't listen, and I'm going to work at journalism in London and take my chance."
"My poor boy, my poor boy!" And the old priest was silent.
Then he said, "Do you think you can keep yourself?"
"I am sure I can, if only I can tide over the first three months. I expect it will be very hard at first though."
"Have you any money?"
"No; and I am heavily in debt into the bargain."
"Oh, well, well, we must manage all that somehow. I won't let you starve. You have always been so frank with me, and told me all your troubles. We understand one another; you must let me lend you some for a time."
"It's awfully good of you."
"Oh, nonsense, these things are nothing between you and me; here is a cheque for five-and-twenty pounds, that will keep you going for a month or two. You know I'm not exactly a poor man. Now you'll stay to lunch, the Bishop's coming."
"No, thanks, I won't stay, I'll say good-bye now; I want to be alone and think. Thank you so very much; I haven't led a very happy life at Oxford, but I have tried … and you've been so kind… I am afraid I am utterly unworthy of it all"; and his voice trembled artistically.
"My boy," said the old man, and his face shone, "you have been foolish, and wasted your chances. You have not been very bad. Thank God that you are pure and don't drink. God bless you – go out and prosper, keep innocence; now good-bye, good-bye"; and he made the sign of the cross in the air.
Gobion got outside somehow, feeling rather unwell. He did not feel particularly pleased with his success at first, but the sun, and the crowd of people, and the wonderful irrepressible gaiety of the High just