He then went in search of some of his own friends, and, as it was still early, had little difficulty in finding them.
They laughed at his sorry appearance, and his story of falling among thieves on his way, but they were ready enough to help him, for he was very popular, both with students and teachers, and they were glad enough to see him back among them.
In the quiet of his own room, however, Miles began to think of the graver difficulty that beset him now, for he feared his father would not send him any money; and, as he had not entered the college as a poor student, money was needed at every turn.
Fortunately the robbers had not taken his Greek New Testament, but had put it back into the inner pocket when they took his money, probably thinking it was safest there and of no value to them; and as Miles laid this precious treasure on the table while he changed his clothes, it suddenly occurred to him that he might perhaps earn a little money by translating this, or some portion of it, into English. Many of the students, who were not sufficiently masters of the Greek tongue, had openly wished that someone would translate it into English for them, and as he was a pretty good Greek scholar he thought he might be able in his leisure time to translate one or two of the Gospels, and, having made one fair copy, it would not take long to copy it again, and he resolved to sit down to his task that very day and try what he could do, before mentioning it to any of his friends.
Then he had to consider what was to be done for Reuben and Rankin. Without money to help himself, it was a sore perplexity to know what to do for them. Reuben would go back to Woodstock, of course, and tell his father what had happened, and the sooner he set out the better. But there was also the farmer, who had risked his life to save him, he also must be thought for, and, if possible, provided for, though how it was to be done it was hard to say; and Miles was so long considering the subject that two of his friends came in search of him an hour or two later.
"Why did you not come to the lecture?" said one. "We made sure we should see you there."
"Well, I must go and see my tutor, and ask him a few questions before I can do anything," said Miles, "and I was hardly fit for lecture this morning, having had no sleep all night." And then by degrees he told these friends something of the difficulties in which he found himself placed, and the uncertainty whether his father would send him any more money, even when his servant got back to Woodstock.
"Why, you are trying to work out More's 'Utopia,'" said one of his friends, laughing.
"What is that?" asked Miles. "Another new book from the Greek?"
"Oh, no; it is in simple English that anyone can read, and so I suppose it is beneath the notice of you Greek scholars."