Apparently he was to have his meals by himself: he was glad of it: he would be able to read all the time! But how was he to find the schoolroom! Some one would surely fetch him! They would remember he did not know his way about the place! It wanted yet an hour to dinner-time when, finding himself drowsy, he threw himself on his bed, where presently he fell fast asleep.
The night descended, and when he came to himself, its silences were deep around him.

It was not dark: there was no moon, but the twilight was clear.

He could read the face of his watch: it was twelve o'clock! No one had missed him! He was very hungry! But he had been hungrier before and survived it! In his wallet were still some remnants of oat-cake! He took it in his hand, and stepping out on the bartizan, crept with careful steps round to the watch-tower.

There he seated himself in the stone chair, and ate his dry morsels in the starry presences.

Sleep had refreshed him, and he was wide awake, yet there was on him the sense of a strange existence.