Half-a-dozen fellow-students, among them John Earwaker, talked in his vicinity of the day's results.
Peak's part in the gossip was small, and when he smiled it was in a forced, anxious way, with brief raising of his eyes.

For a moment only was the notice of a wider circle directed upon him when Dr Nares, moving past with a train of colloquial attendants, turned aside to repeat his praise of the young man's achievements in Philosophy: he bestowed a kindly shake of the hand, and moved on.
The Warricombe group descended, in purposeless fashion, towards the spot where Chilvers held his court.

Their personal acquaintance with Bruno and his family was slight, and though Mrs.Warricombe would gladly have pushed forward to claim recognition, natural diffidence restrained her.

Sidwell kept in the rear, risking now and then a glance of vivid curiosity on either hand.

Buckland, striving not to look petulant or sullen, allowed himself to be led on; but when he became aware of the tendency Bruno-wards, a protest broke from him.
'There's no need to swell that fellow's conceit.