Chapter 43

NEW COMRADES

The winter had passed imperceptibly and the thaw begun when the
list of examinations was posted at the University, and I suddenly
remembered that I had to return answers to questions in eighteen
subjects on which I had heard lectures delivered, but with regard
to some of which I had taken no notes and made no preparation
whatever. It seems strange that the question "How am I going to
pass?" should never have entered my head, but the truth is that
all that winter I had been in such a state of haze through the
delights of being both grown-up and "comme il faut" that,
whenever the question of the examinations had occurred to me, I
had mentally compared myself with my comrades, and thought to
myself, "They are certain to pass, and as most of them are not
'comme il faut,' and I am therefore their personal superior, I
too am bound to come out all right." In fact, the only reason why
I attended lectures at all was that I might become an habitue of
the University, and obtain Papa's leave to go in and out of the
house. Moreover, I had many acquaintances now, and often enjoyed
myself vastly at the University. I loved the racket, talking, and
laughter in the auditorium, the opportunities for sitting on a
back bench, and letting the measured voice of the professor lure
one into dreams as one contemplated one's comrades, the
occasional runnings across the way for a snack and a glass of
vodka (sweetened by the fearful joy of knowing that one might be
hauled before the professor for so doing), the stealthy closing
of the door as one returned to the auditorium, and the
participation in "course versus course" scuffles in the
corridors. All this was very enjoyable.

By the time, however, that every one had begun to put in a better
attendance at lectures, and the professor of physics had
completed his course and taken his leave of us until the
examinations came on, and the students were busy collecting their
notebooks and arranging to do their preparation in parties, it
struck me that I also had better prepare for the ordeal. Operoff,
with whom I still continued on bowing, but otherwise most frigid,
terms, suddenly offered not only to lend me his notebooks, but to
let me do my preparation with himself and some other students. I
thanked him, and accepted the invitation--hoping by that
conferment of honour completely to dissipate our old
misunderstanding; but at the same time I requested that the
gatherings should always be held at my home, since my quarters
were so splendid! To this the students replied that they meant to
take turn and turn about--sometimes to meet at one fellow's
place, sometimes at another's, as might be most convenient.