How eagerly each delinquent scanned the faces of his fellow-victims as
they came forth from the Proctorial presence, vainly trying to gather
from their looks some forecast of his impending fate; and how jealously
(if a "senior") he eyed the freshman who was going to plead a first
offence!
And then the interview that followed--not half so terrible as was
expected. The good-natured individual who stood before the fire, in
blazer and slippers, was barely recognisable as the terrible official of
yesterday's encounter; while the sleek attendant at the Proctor's elbow
seemed more like a waiter than the pertinacious and fleet-footed
"bull-dog." What a load was raised from the mind as the Proctor made a
mild demand for five shillings, and the "bull-dog" pointed to a plate
into which you gladly tossed the half-crowns. And then you quitted the
room which you vowed never again to enter, feeling that you had been let
down very easily. For you knew full well that beneath the Proctor's
suave demeanour lurked a sting which too often took the painful form of
rustication from the University.
But let us accompany the Proctor as he makes his nightly rounds with his
faithful body-guard, and look once more upon the ceremony of
"proctorisation.
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