JOHN ARANY 221 the oak-clad plains. At length he reached the marshy district of Ecsed · and erossed the bridge, where he met a gen darme, who lookcd with some suspicion upon the poor wanderer. But Arany's troubles were not yet over. The way to his native viliage of Szalonta led across the hot, sandy plains straight to Debreczen. But he would not for the world meet any of his former professors or fellow-students. How condescendi ngly they wo uld pity him if they knew that after surrendering. his rank as a college student to become astrolling player, he had been unsuccessful. He dare d not go near the college but passed along the back streets. His store of food was exhausted, and bodily fatigue was added to the grief and shame wh ich tortured hím. When he carne to the houses of coun try pastors, which were always open to travellers, he was afraid to put his hand to the latch lest the pasto r should ask him, "What are you doing here, you tramp ?" He felt keenly in his own person all the misery of home lessness which he afterwards described so vi vidly in the story of Nicholas Toldi. Ho w strange is life l A few years later another young actor was wanderi ng through the same district. He too had given up a college career a nd obtained in exchange a life full of privations. He tramped along, but although he was hungry, ill, and cold, a prophecy of future great ness gleamed in his large bright eyes. This second actor, wh o later on became Arany' s most intimate friend and his equal in gen ius, was Alexander Petőfi. At last, after two days' walking, Arany arrived at Szal onta. His relatíves and friends met hím either with reproaches or with sarcasm. His Iess intimate acquaintances regarded him with suspicion.
