‘Have you heard any talk about Walsh?’ the latter inquired, as they walked on.

Peak shrugged his shoulders, with a laugh.

‘No.  Have you?’

’Some women in front of me just now were-evidently discussing him.  I heard “How shocking!” and “Disgraceful!"’

Peak’s eyes flashed, and he exclaimed in a voice of wrath: 

’Besotted idiots!  How I wish I were in Walsh’s position!  How I should enjoy standing up before the crowd of fools and seeing their fear of me!  But I couldn’t keep it to myself; I should give in to the temptation to call them blockheads and jackasses.’

Earwaker was amused at his friend’s vehemence.  He sympathised with it, but had an unyouthful sobriety in the expression of his feelings.

’Most likely he despises them far too much to be disturbed by what they think of him.  But, I say, isn’t it desperately comical that one human being can hate and revile another because they think differently about the origin of the universe?  Couldn’t you roar with laughter when you’ve thought over it for a moment?  “You be damned for your theory of irregular verbs!” is nothing to it.’  And he uttered his croak of mirth, whilst Peak, with distorted features, laughed in rage and scorn.

They had crossed the open space in front of the College buildings, and were issuing into the highway, when a voice very unlike those that were wont to sound within the academic precincts (or indeed in the streets of Kingsmill) made sudden demand upon Peak’s attention.

’Thet you, Godwin?  Thoughts I, it must be ’im!  ’Ow goes it, my bo-oy?  You ’ardly reckonise me, I dessay, and I couldn’t be sure as it was you till I’d ’ed a good squint at yer.  I’ve jest called round at your lodgin’s, and they towld me as you was at the Collige.’

He who thus accosted the student, with the most offensive purity of Cockney accent, was a man of five-and-forty, dressed in a new suit of ready-made tweeds, the folding crease strongly marked down the front of the trousers and the coat sleeves rather too long.  His face bore a strong impress of vulgarity, but at the same time had a certain ingenuousness, a self-absorbed energy and simplicity, which saved it from being wholly repellent; the brow was narrow, the eyes small and bright, and the coarse lips half hid themselves under a struggling reddish growth.  In these lineaments lurked a family resemblance to Godwin Peak, sufficient to support a claim of kindred which at this moment might have seemed improbable.  At the summons of recognition Godwin stood transfixed; his arms fell straight, and his head drew back as if to avoid a blow.  For an instant he was clay colour, then a hot flush broke upon his cheeks.

‘I shan’t be able to go with you,’ he said, in a thick, abrupt voice, addressing Earwaker but not regarding him.  ‘Good-bye!’

The other offered his hand and, without speaking, walked away.

‘Prize-dye at the Collige, they tell me,’ pursued Godwin’s relative, looking at a cluster of people that passed.  ’What ‘ave you took?’