“Well, I haven't seen much of them,” said Tom, “and I don't want to see any more, for it seems to be all Gothic mouldings and man-millinery business.”
“You won't think so when you've been up a little longer.” said Hardy, getting up to make tea, which operation he had hardly commenced, when a knock came at the door, and in answer to Hardy's “Come in,” a slight, shy man appeared, who hesitated, and seemed inclined to go when he saw that Hardy was not alone.
“Oh, come in, and have a cup of tea, Grey. You know Brown, I think?” said Hardy, looking round from the fire, where he was filling his teapot, to watch Tom's reception of the new comer.
Our hero took his feet down, drew himself up and made a solemn bow, which Grey returned, and then slid nervously into a chair and looked very uncomfortable. However, in another minute Hardy came to the rescue and began pouring out the tea. He was evidently tickled at the idea of confronting Tom so soon with another of his enemies. Tom saw this, and put on a cool and majestic manner in consequence, which evidently increased the discomfort of Grey's seat, and kept Hardy on the edge of an abyss of laughter. In fact, he had to ease himself by talking of indifferent matters and laughing at nothing. Tom had never seen him in this sort of humor before, and couldn't help enjoying it, though he felt that it was partly at his own expense. But when Hardy once just approached the subject of the wine party, Tom bristled up so quickly, and Grey looked so meekly wretched, though he knew nothing of what was coming, that Hardy suddenly changed the subject, and turning to Grey, said—
“What have you been doing the last fortnight? You haven't been here once. I've been obliged to get on with my Aristotle without you.”
“I'm very sorry indeed, but I haven't been able to come,” said Grey, looking sideways at Hardy, and then at Tom, who sat regarding the wall, supremely indifferent.
“Well, I've finished my Ethics,” said Hardy; “can't you come in to-morrow night to talk them over? I suppose you're through them too?”
“No, really,” said Grey. “I haven't been able to look at them since the last time I was here.”
“You must take care,” said Hardy. “The new examiners are all for science and history; it won't do for you to go in trusting to your scholarship.”
“I hope to make it up in the Easter vacation,” said Grey. “You'll have enough to do then,” said Hardy; “but how is it you've dropped astern so?”