 repute of its scientific Professors tempted him
to what had once seemed his natural direction. In the second year, however, he
enlarged his course by the addition of one or two classes not included in Sir
Job's design; these were paid for out of a present made to him by Mr. Gunnery.
    It being customary for the regular students of Whitelaw to graduate at
London University, Peak passed his matriculation, and worked on for the
preliminary test then known as First B.A. In the meanwhile he rose steadily,
achieving distinction in the College. The more observant of his teachers
remarked him even where he fell short of academic triumph, and among his
fellow-students he had the name of a stern sweater, one not easily beaten where
he had set his mind on excelling. He was not generally liked, for his mood
appeared unsocial, and a repelling arrogance was sometimes felt in his talk. No
doubt - said the more fortunate young men - he came from a very poor home, and
suffered from the narrowness of his means. They noticed that he did not
subscribe to the College Union, and that he could never join in talk regarding
the diversions of the town. His two or three intimates were chosen from among
those contemporaries who read hard and dressed poorly.
    The details of Godwin's private life were noteworthy. Accustomed hitherto to
a domestic circle, at Kingsmill he found himself isolated, and it was not easy
for him to surrender all at once the comforts of home. For a time he felt as
though his ambition were a delinquency which entailed the punishment of
loneliness. Nor did his relations with Sir Job Whitelaw tend to mitigate this
feeling. In his first interview with the Baronet, Godwin showed to little
advantage. A deadly bashfulness forbade him to be natural either in attitude or
speech. He felt his dependence in a way he had not foreseen; the very clothes he
wore, then fresh from the tailor's, seemed to be the gift of charity, and their
stiffness shamed him. A man of the world, Sir Job could make allowance for these
defects. He understood that the truest kindness would be to leave a youth such
as this to the forming influences of the College. So Godwin barely had a glimpse
of Lady Whitelaw in her husband's study, and thereafter for many months he saw
nothing of his benefactors. Subsequently he was twice invited to interviews with
Sir Job, who talked with kindness and commendation. Then came the Baronet's
death. Godwin received an assurance that this event would be no check upon his
career, but he
