He saw them looking at one another almost sheepishly, some even dazedly, then one of them heaved a sigh and reached out a courteous and helping hand towards Coles. The others gathered round. There was a slow and stately forward move.... Up the steps they went with their sorry leader, and out of sight into the house. Thus Rouse and Terence were left alone, each with a friendly hand upon Henry’s shoulder, as out of the darkness there came a small and shadowy form, and the weary voice of Bobbie Carr was wafted towards them upon the breeze.
“Can I do anything to help?” he was saying. “What is it? Can I do anything to help?”
Rouse beckoned to him.
“Yes,” said he, “you can. You can take Brighteyes to bed. He can’t see very plainly where he’s going.”
Bobbie came up to Henry and looked at him.
“What’s the matter, Hope?”
“It’s my glasses,” said Henry. “All I’ve got left is the frames.” He sighed lugubriously. “It doesn’t matter,” said he. “I’ve got a hold on Coles anyway, and it may be very useful.”
It was his farewell. Without another word he suffered himself to be led away into the house.
It was after the two who still remained had wandered on, skirting the school in order to save Rouse from his friends, that they met Toby. He was standing outside Seymour’s, smoking a pipe and talking to the house master. He came up to them and strolled side by side along the roadway until at last Terence said:
“It means rebellion, and if they want me to, I’m going to lead it.”