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diff --git a/old/12083-h/12083-h.htm b/old/12083-h/12083-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..656d76c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12083-h/12083-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9982 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Eric | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + blockquote {text-align: justify; + margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%;} + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + .c {text-align:center;} + +</style> +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Eric, by Frederic William Farrar</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Eric</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Frederic William Farrar</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: April 19, 2004 [EBook #12083]<br> +[Most recently updated: October 1, 2023]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Charlie Kirschner and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team.</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ERIC ***</div> + + + + + + +<h1>ERIC</h1> +<h2>OR, LITTLE BY LITTLE</h2> +<h3>A TALE OF ROSLYN SCHOOL</h3> +<h4>By</h4> +<h3>FREDERIC W. FARRAR, D.D.</h3> +<h5>Author of "The Life of Christ," "Julian Home," "St. Winifreds," +etc</h5> +<h4>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY</h4> +<h3>GEORGE A. TRAVER</h3> +<br> +<h5>1902</h5> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<br> +<p><a href="#PART_I.">PART I.</a></p> +<p><a href="#1CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I--CHILDHOOD.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II--A NEW HOME.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III--BULLYING.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV--CRIBBING.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V--THE SECOND TERM.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI--HOME AFFECTIONS.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII--ERIC A BOARDER.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII--"TAKING UP".</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX--"DEAD FLIES," OR "YE SHALL BE AS +GODS".</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X--DORMITORY LIFE.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI--ERIC IN COVENTRY.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII--THE TRIAL.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII--THE ADVENTURE AT THE +STACK.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV--THE SILVER CORD +BROKEN.</a><br> +<a href="#1CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV--HOME AGAIN.</a></p> +<br> +<p><a href="#PART_II">PART II.</a></p> +<p><a href="#2CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I--ABDIEL.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II--WILDNEY.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III--THE JOLLY HERRING.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV--MR. ROSE AND BRIGSON.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V--RIPPLES.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI--ERIC AND MONTAGU.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII--THE PIGEONS.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII--SOWING THE WIND.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX--WHOM THE GODS LOVE DIE +YOUNG.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X--THE LAST TEMPTATION.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI--REAPING THE WHIRLWIND.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII--THE STORMY PETREL.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII--HOME AT LAST.</a><br> +<a href="#2CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV--CONCLUSION.</a></p> +<br> +<p>ILLUSTRATIONS</p> +<p>BULLYING.<br> +ERIC <i>Vignette on title-page</i>.<br> +SMOKING.<br> +ON THE ROCK.<br> +OUT OF THE WINDOW.<br> +ERIC AND VERNON.<br> +HIDING.<br> +ERIC ESCAPING FROM THE SHIP <i>Frontispiece</i>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2>ERIC: OR, LITTLE BY LITTLE</h2> +<h2><a name="PART_I."></a>PART I.</h2> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> +<br> +<h3>CHILDHOOD</h3> +<blockquote>"Ah dear delights, that o'er my soul<br> +On memory's wing like shadows fly!<br> +Ah flowers that Joy from Eden stole,<br> +While Innocence stood laughing by."--COLERIDGE.</blockquote> +<p>"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" cried a young boy, as he capered +vigorously about, and clapped his hands. "Papa and mamma will be +home in a week now, and then we shall stay here a little time, and +<i>then</i>, and <i>then</i>, I shall go to school."</p> +<p>The last words were enunciated with immense importance, as he +stopped his impromptu dance before the chair where his sober cousin +Fanny was patiently working at her crochet; but she did not look so +much affected by the announcement as the boy seemed to demand, so +he again exclaimed, "And then, Miss Fanny, I shall go to +school."</p> +<p>"Well, Eric," said Fanny, raising her matter-of-fact quiet face +from her endless work, "I doubt, dear, whether you will talk of it +with quite as much joy a year hence."</p> +<p>"O ay, Fanny, that's just like you to say so; you're always +talking and prophesying; but never mind, I'm going to school, so +hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" and he again began his capering,--jumping +over the chairs, trying to vault the tables, singing and dancing +with an exuberance of delight, till, catching a sudden sight of his +little spaniel Flo, he sprang through the open window into the +garden, and disappeared behind the trees of the shrubbery; but +Fanny still heard his clear, ringing, silvery laughter, as he +continued his games in the summer air.</p> +<p>She looked up from her work after he had gone, and sighed. In +spite of the sunshine and balm of the bright weather, a sense of +heaviness and foreboding oppressed her. Everything looked smiling +and beautiful, and there was an almost irresistible contagion in +the mirth of her young cousin, but still she could not help feeling +sad. It was not merely that she would have to part with Eric, "but +that bright boy," thought Fanny, "what will become of him? I have +heard strange things of schools; oh, if he should be spoilt and +ruined, what misery it would be. Those baby lips, that pure young +heart, a year may work sad change in their words and thoughts!" She +sighed again, and her eyes glistened as she raised them upwards, +and breathed a silent prayer.</p> +<p>She loved the boy dearly, and had taught him from his earliest +years. In most things she found him an apt pupil. Truthful, +ingenuous, quick, he would acquire almost without effort any +subject that interested him, and a word was often enough to bring +the impetuous blood to his cheeks, in a flush, of pride or +indignation. He required the gentlest teaching, and had received +it, while his mind seemed cast in such a mould of stainless honor +that he avoided most of the faults to which children are prone. But +he was far from blameless. He was proud to a fault; he well knew +that few of his fellows had gifts like his, either of mind or +person, and his fair face often showed a clear impression of his +own superiority. His passion, too, was imperious, and though it +always met with prompt correction, his cousin had latterly found it +difficult to subdue. She felt, in a word, that he was outgrowing +her rule. Beyond a certain age no boy of spirit can be safely +guided by a woman's hand alone.</p> +<p>Eric Williams was now twelve years old. His father was a +civilian in India, and was returning on furlough to England after a +long absence. Eric had been born in India, but had been sent to +England by his parents at an early age, in charge of a lady friend +of his mother. The parting, which had been agony to his father and +mother, he was too young to feel; indeed the moment itself passed +by without his being conscious of it. They took him on board the +ship, and, after a time, gave him a hammer and some nails to play +with. These had always been to him a supreme delight, and while he +hammered away, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, denying themselves, for the +child's sake, even one more tearful embrace, went ashore in the +boat and left him. It was not till the ship sailed that he was told +he would not see them again for a long, long time. Poor child, his +tears and cries were wild when he first understood it; but the +sorrows of four years old are very transient, and before a week was +over, little Eric felt almost reconciled to his position, and had +become the universal pet and plaything of every one on board, from +Captain Broadland down to the cabin boy, with whom he very soon +struck up an acquaintance. Yet twice a day at least, he would shed +a tear, as he lisped his little prayer, kneeling at Mrs. Munro's +knee, and asked God "to bless his dear dear father and mother, and +make him a good boy."</p> +<p>When Eric arrived in England, he was intrusted to the care of a +widowed aunt, whose daughter, Fanny, had the main charge of his +early teaching. At first, the wayward little Indian seemed likely +to form no accession to the quiet household, but he soon became its +brightest ornament and pride. Everything was in his favor at the +pleasant home of Mrs. Trevor. He was treated with motherly kindness +and tenderness, yet firmly checked when he went wrong. From the +first he had a well-spring of strength, against temptation, in the +long letters which every mail brought from his parents; and all his +childish affections were entwined round the fancied image of a +brother born since he had left India. In his bed-room there hung a +cherub's head, drawn in pencil by his mother, and this picture was +inextricably identified in his imagination with his "little brother +Vernon." He loved it dearly, and whenever he went astray, nothing +weighed on his mind so strongly as the thought, that if he were +naughty he would teach little Vernon to be naughty too when he came +home.</p> +<p>And Nature also--wisest, gentlest, holiest of teachers-was with +him in his childhood. Fairholm Cottage, where his aunt lived, was +situated in the beautiful Vale of Ayrton, and a clear stream ran +through the valley at the bottom of Mrs. Trevor's orchard. Eric +loved this stream, and was always happy as he roamed by its side, +or over the low green hills and scattered dingles, which lent +unusual loveliness to every winding of its waters. He was allowed +to go about a good deal by himself, and it did him good. He grew up +fearless and self-dependent, and never felt the want of amusement. +The garden and orchard supplied him a theatre for endless games and +romps, sometimes with no other companion than his cousin and his +dog, and sometimes with the few children of his own age whom he +knew in the hamlet. Very soon he forgot all about India; it only +hung like a distant golden haze on the horizon of his memory. When +asked if he remembered it, he would say thoughtfully, that in +dreams and at some other times, he saw a little child, with long +curly hair, running about in a little garden, near a great river, +in a place where the air was very bright. But whether the little +boy was himself or his brother Vernon, whom he had never seen, he +couldn't quite tell.</p> +<p>But above all, it was happy for Eric that his training was +religious and enlightened. With Mrs. Trevor and her daughter, +religion was not a system but a habit--not a theory, but a +continued act of life. All was simple, sweet, and unaffected about +their charity and their devotions. They loved God, and they did all +the good they could to those around them. The floating gossip and +ill-nature of the little village never affected them; it melted +away insensibly in the presence of their cultivated minds; and so +friendship with them was a bond of union among all, and from the +vicar to the dairyman every one loved and respected them, asked +their counsel, and sought their sympathy.</p> +<p>They called themselves by no sectarian name, nor could they have +told to what "party" they belonged. They troubled themselves with +no theories of education, but mingled gentle nurture with +"wholesome neglect." There was nothing exotic or constrained in the +growth of Eric's character. He was not one of your angelically good +children at all, and knew none of the phrases of which infant +prodigies are supposed to be so fond. He had not been taught any +distinction between "Sunday books" and "week-day" books, but no +book had been put in his way that was not healthy and genuine in +tone. He had not been told that he might use his Noah's ark on +Sunday, because it was "a Sunday plaything," while all other toys +were on that day forbidden. Of these things the Trevors thought +little; they only saw that no child could be happy in enforced +idleness or constrained employment; and so Eric grew up to love +Sunday quite as well as any other day in the week, though, unlike +your angelic children, he never professed to like it better. But to +be truthful, to be honest, to be kind, to be brave, these had been +taught him, and he never <i>quite</i> forgot the lesson; nor amid +the sorrows of after life did he ever quite lose the sense--learnt +at dear quiet Fairholm--of a present loving God, of a tender and +long-suffering Father.</p> +<p>As yet he could be hardly said to know what school was. He had +been sent indeed to Mr. Lawley's grammar-school for the last +half-year, and had learned a few declensions in his Latin grammar. +But as Mr. Lawley allowed his upper class to hear the little boys +their lessons, Eric had managed to get on pretty much as he liked. +Only <i>once</i> in the entire half-year had he said a lesson to +the dreadful master himself, and of course it was a ruinous +failure, involving some tremendous pulls of Eric's hair, and making +him tremble like a leaf. Several things combined to make Mr. Lawley +dreadful to his imagination. Ever since he was quite little, he +remembered hearing the howls which proceeded from the "Latin +school" as he passed by, whilst some luckless youngster was getting +caned; and the reverend pedagogue was notoriously passionate. Then, +again, he spoke so indistinctly with his deep, gruff voice, that +Eric never could and never did syllable a word he said, and this +kept him in a perpetual terror. Once Mr. Lawley had told him to go +out, and see what time it was by the church clock. Only hearing +that he was to do something, too frightened to ask what it was, and +feeling sure that even if he did, he should not understand what the +master said, Eric ran out, went straight to Mr. Lawley's house, and +after having managed by strenuous jumps to touch the knocker, +informed the servant "that Mr. Lawley wanted his man."</p> +<p>"What man?" said the maid-servant, "the young man? or the +butler? or is it the clerk?"</p> +<p>Here was a puzzler! all Eric knew was that he was in the habit +of sending sometimes for one or the other of these functionaries; +but he was in for it, so with a faltering voice he said "the young +man" at hazard, and went back to the Latin school.</p> +<p>"Why have you been so long?" roared Mr. Lawley, as he timidly +entered. Fear entirely prevented Eric from hearing what was said, +so he answered at random, "He's coming, sir." The master, seeing by +his scared look that something was wrong, waited to see what would +turn up.</p> +<p>Soon after, in walked "the young man," and coming to the +astonished Mr. Lawley, bowed, scraped, and said, "Master Williams +said you sent for me, sir."</p> +<p>"A mistake," growled the schoolmaster, turning on Eric a look +which nearly petrified him; he quite expected a book at his head, +or at best a great whack of the cane; but Mr. Lawley had naturally +a kind heart, soured as it was, and pitying perhaps the child's +white face, he contented himself with the effects of his look.</p> +<p>The simple truth was, that poor Mr. Lawley was a little wrong in +the head. A scholar and a gentleman, early misfortunes and an +imprudent marriage had driven him to the mastership of the little +country grammar-school; and here the perpetual annoyance caused to +his refined mind by the coarseness of clumsy or spiteful boys, had +gradually unhinged his intellect. Often did he tell the boys "that +it was an easier life by far to break stones by the roadside than +to teach them;" and at last his eccentricities became too obvious +to be any longer overlooked.</p> +<p>The dénouement of his history was a tragic one, and had +come a few days before the time when, our narrative opens. It was a +common practice among the Latin school boys, as I suppose among all +boys, to amuse themselves by putting a heavy book on the top of a +door left partially ajar, and to cry out "Crown him" as the first +luckless youngster who happened to come in received the book +thundering on his head. One day, just as the trap had been adroitly +laid, Mr. Lawley walked in unexpectedly. The moment he entered the +school-room, down came an Ainsworth's Dictionary on the top of his +hat, and the boy, concealed behind the door, unconscious of who the +victim was, enunciated with mock gravity, "Crown him! three +cheers."</p> +<p>It took Mr. Lawley a second to raise from his eyebrows the +battered hat, and recover from his confusion; the next instant he +was springing after the boy who had caused the mishap, and who, +knowing the effects of the master's fury, fled with precipitation. +In one minute the offender was caught, and Mr. Lawley's heavy hand +fell recklessly on his ears and back, until he screamed with +terror. At last by a tremendous writhe, wrenching himself free, he +darted towards the door, and Mr. Lawley, too exhausted to pursue, +snatched his large gold watch out of his fob, and hurled it at the +boy's retreating figure. The watch flew through the air;--crash! it +had missed its aim, and, striking the wall above the lintel, fell +smashed into a thousand shivers.</p> +<p>The sound, the violence of the action, the sight of the broken +watch, which was the gift of a cherished friend, instantly woke the +master to his senses. The whole school had seen it; they sate there +pale and breathless with excitement and awe. The poor man could +bear it no longer. He flung himself into his chair, hid his face +with his hands, and burst into hysterical tears. It was the +outbreak of feelings long pent up. In that instant all his life +passed before him--its hopes, its failures, its miseries, its +madness. "Yes!" he thought, "I am mad."</p> +<p>Raising his head, he cried wildly, "Boys, go, I am mad!" and +sank again into his former position, rocking himself to and fro. +One by one the boys stole out, and he was left alone. The end is +soon told. Forced to leave Ayrton, he had no means of earning his +daily bread; and the weight of this new anxiety hastening the +crisis, the handsome proud scholar became an inmate of the Brerely +Lunatic Asylum. A few years afterwards, Eric heard that he was +dead. Poor broken human heart! may he rest in peace.</p> +<p>Such was Eric's first school and schoolmaster. But although he +learnt little there, and gained no experience of the character of +others or of his own, yet there was one point about Ayrton Latin +School, which he never regretted. It was the mixture there of all +classes. On those benches gentlemen's sons sat side by side with +plebeians, and no harm, but only good, seemed to come from the +intercourse. The neighboring gentry, most of whom had begun their +education there, were drawn into closer and kindlier union with +their neighbors and dependents, from the fact of having been their +associates in the days of their boyhood. Many a time afterwards, +when Eric, as he passed down the streets, interchanged friendly +greetings with some young glazier or tradesman whom he remembered +at school, he felt glad that thus early he had learnt practically +to despise the accidental and nominal differences which separate +man from man.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> +<br> +<h3>A NEW HOME</h3> +<blockquote>"Life hath its May, and all is joyous then;<br> +The woods are vocal and the flowers breathe odour,<br> +The very breeze hath, mirth in't."--OLD PLAY.</blockquote> +<p>At last the longed-for yet dreaded day approached, and a letter +informed the Trevors that Mr. and Mrs. Williams would arrive at +Southampton on July 5th, and would probably reach Ayrton the +evening after. They particularly requested that no one should come +to meet them on their landing. "We shall reach Southampton," wrote +Mrs. Trevor, "tired, pale, and travel-stained, and had much rather +see you first at dear Fairholm, where we shall be spared the +painful constraint of a meeting in public. So please expect our +arrival at about seven in the evening."</p> +<p>Poor Eric! although he had been longing for the time ever since +the news came, yet now he was too agitated to enjoy. Exertion and +expectation made him restless, and he could settle down to nothing +all day, every hour of which hung most heavily on his hands.</p> +<p>At last the afternoon wore away, and a soft summer evening +filled the sky with its gorgeous calm. Far off they caught the +sound of wheels; a carriage dashed up to the door, and the next +moment Eric sprang into his mother's arms.</p> +<p>"O mother, mother!"</p> +<p>"My own darling, darling boy!"</p> +<p>And as the pale sweet face of the mother met the bright and rosy +child-face, each of them was wet with a rush of ineffable tears. In +another moment Eric had been folded to his father's heart, and +locked in the arms of "little brother Vernon." Who shall describe +the emotions of those few moments? they did not seem like earthly +moments; they seemed to belong not to time, but to eternity.</p> +<p>The first evening of such a scene is too excited to be happy. +The little party at Fairholm retired early, and Eric was soon fast +asleep with his arm round his newfound brother's neck.</p> +<p>Quiet steps entered the little room, and noiselessly the father +and mother sat down by the bedside of their children. Earth could +have shown no scene more perfect in its beauty than that which met +their eyes. The pure moonlight flooded the little room, and showed +distinctly the forms and countenances of the sleepers, whose soft +regular breathing was the only sound that broke the stillness of +the July night. The small shining flower-like faces, with their +fair hair--the trustful loving arms folded round each brother's +neck--the closed lids and parted lips made an exquisite picture, +and one never to be forgotten. Side by side, without a word, the +parents knelt down, and with eyes wet with tears of joyfulness, +poured out their hearts in passionate prayer for their young and +beloved boys.</p> +<p>Very happily the next month glided away; a new life seemed +opened to Eric in the world of rich affections which had unfolded +itself before him. His parents--above all, his mother--were +everything that he had longed for; and Vernon more than fulfilled +to his loving heart the ideal of his childish fancy. He was never +tired of playing with and patronising his little brother, and their +rambles by stream and hill made those days appear the happiest he +had ever spent. Every evening (for he had not yet laid aside the +habits of childhood) he said his prayers by his mother's knee, and +at the end of one long summer's day, when prayers were finished, +and full of life and happiness he lay down to sleep, "O mother," he +said, "I am so happy--I like to say my prayers when you are +here."</p> +<p>"Yes, my boy, and God loves to hear them."</p> +<p>"Aren't there some who never say prayers, mother?"</p> +<p>"Very many, love, I fear."</p> +<p>"How unhappy they must be! I shall <i>always</i> love to say my +prayers."</p> +<p>"Ah, Eric, God grant that you may!"</p> +<p>And the fond mother hoped he always would. But these words often +came back to Eric's mind in later and less happy days--days when +that gentle hand could no longer rest lovingly on his head--when +those mild blue eyes were dim with tears, and the fair boy, changed +in heart and life, often flung himself down with an unreproaching +conscience to prayerless sleep.</p> +<p>It had been settled that in another week Eric was to go to +school in the Isle of Roslyn. Mr. Williams had hired a small house +in the town of Ellan, and intended to stay there for his year of +furlough, at the end of which period Vernon was to be left at +Fairholm, and Eric in the house of the head-master of the school. +Eric enjoyed the prospect of all things, and he hardly fancied that +Paradise itself could be happier than a life at the seaside with +his father and mother and Vernon, combined with the commencement of +schoolboy dignity. When the time for the voyage came, his first +glimpse of the sea, and the sensation of sailing over it with only +a few planks between him and the deep waters, struck him silent +with admiring wonder. It was a cloudless day; the line of blue sky +melted into the line of blue wave, and the air was filled with +sunlight. At evening they landed, and the coach took them to Ellan. +On the way Eric saw for the first time the strength of the hills, +so that when they reached the town and took possession of their +cottage, he was dumb with the inrush of new and marvellous +impressions.</p> +<p>Next morning he was awake early, and jumping out of bed, so as +not to disturb the sleeping Vernon, he drew up the window-blind, +and gently opened the window. A very beautiful scene burst on him, +one destined to be long mingled with all his most vivid +reminiscences. Not twenty yards below the garden, in front of the +house, lay Ellan Bay, at that moment rippling with golden laughter +in the fresh breeze of sunrise. On either side of the bay was a +bold headland, the one stretching out in a series of broken crags, +the other terminating in a huge mass of rock, called from its shape +the Stack. To the right lay the town, with its grey old castle, and +the mountain stream running through it into the sea; to the left, +high above the beach, rose the crumbling fragment of a picturesque +fort, behind which towered the lofty buildings of Roslyn School. +Eric learnt the whole landscape by heart, and thought himself a +most happy boy to come to such a place. He fancied that he should +be never tired of looking at the sea, and could not take his eyes +off the great buoy that rolled about in the centre of the bay, and +flashed in the sunlight at every move. He turned round full of hope +and spirits, and, after watching for a few moments the beautiful +face of his sleeping brother, he awoke him with a boisterous +kiss.</p> +<p>That day Eric was to have his first interview with Dr. Rowlands. +The school had already re-opened, and one of the boys in his +college cap passed by the window while they were breakfasting. He +looked very happy and engaging, and was humming a tune as he +strolled along. Eric started up and gazed after him with the most +intense curiosity. At that moment the unconscious schoolboy was to +him the most interesting person in the whole world, and he couldn't +realize the fact that, before the day was over, he would be a +Roslyn boy himself. He very much wondered what sort of a fellow the +boy was, and whether he should ever recognise him again, and make +his acquaintance. Yes, Eric, the thread of that boy's destiny is +twined a good deal with yours; his name is Montagu, as you will +know very soon.</p> +<p>At nine o'clock Mr. Williams started towards the school with his +son. The walk led them by the sea-side, over the sands, and past +the ruin, at the foot of which the waves broke at high tide. At any +other time Eric would have been overflowing with life and wonder at +the murmur of the ripples, the sight of the ships passing by the +rock-bound bay, and the numberless little shells, with their bright +colors and sculptured shapes, which lay about the beach. But now +his mind was too full of a single sensation, and when, after +crossing a green playground, they stood by the head-master's door, +his heart fluttered, and it required all his energy to keep down +the nervous trembling which shook him.</p> +<p>Mr. Williams gave his card, and they were shown into Dr. +Rowlands' study. He was a kind-looking gentlemanly man, and when he +turned to address Eric, after a few minutes' conversation with his +father, the boy felt instantly reassured by the pleasant sincerity +and frank courtesy of his manner. A short examination showed that +Eric's attainments were very slight as yet, and he was to be put in +the lowest form of all, under the superintendence of the Rev. Henry +Gordon. Dr. Rowlands wrote a short note in pencil, and giving it to +Eric, directed the servant to show him to Mr. Gordon's +school-room.</p> +<p>The bell had just done ringing when they had started for the +school, so that Eric knew that all the boys would be by this time +assembled at their work, and that he should have to go alone into +the middle of them. As he walked after the servant through the long +corridors and up the broad stairs, he longed to make friends with +him, so as, if possible, to feel less lonely. But he had only time +to get out, "I say, what sort of a fellow is Mr. Gordon?"</p> +<p>"Terrible strict, Sir, I hear," said the man, touching his cap +with a comic expression, which didn't at all tend to enliven the +future pupil. "That's the door," he continued, "and you'll have to +give him the doctor's note;" and, pointing to a door at the end of +the passage, he walked off.</p> +<p>Eric stopped irresolutely. The man had disappeared, and he was +by himself in the great silent building. Afraid of the sound of his +own footsteps, he ran along the passage, and knocked timidly. He +heard a low, a very low murmur in the room, but there was no +answer. He knocked again a little louder; still no notice; then, +overdoing it in his fright, he gave a very loud tap indeed.</p> +<p>"Come in," said a voice, which to the new boy sounded awful; but +he opened the door, and entered. As he came in every head was +quickly raised, he heard a whisper of "New fellow," and the crimson +flooded his face, as he felt himself the cynosure of some forty +intensely-inquisitive pairs of eyes.</p> +<p>He found himself in a high airy room, with three large windows +opening towards the sea. At one end was the master's throne, and +facing it, all down the room, were desks and benches, along which +the boys were sitting at work. Every one knows how very confusing +it is to enter a strange room full of strange people, and +especially when you enter it from a darker passage. Eric felt +dazzled, and not seeing the regular route to the master's desk, +went towards it between two of the benches. As these were at no +great distance from each other, he stumbled against several legs on +his way, and felt pretty sure that they were put out on purpose to +trip him, especially by one boy, who, pretending to be much hurt, +drew up his leg, and began rubbing it, ejaculating <i>sotto +voce</i>, "awkward little fool."</p> +<p>In this very clumsy way he at last reached the desk, and +presented his missive. The master's eye was on him, but all Eric +had time to observe was, that he looked rather stern, and had in +his hand a book which he seemed to be studying with the deepest +interest. He glanced first at the note, and then looked full at the +boy, as though determined to read his character at a glance.</p> +<p>"Williams, I suppose?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Sir," said Eric, very low, still painfully conscious that +all the boys were looking at him, as well as the master.</p> +<p>"Very well, Williams, you are placed in the lowest form--the +fourth. I hope you will work well. At present they are learning +their Cesar. Go and sit next to that boy," pointing towards the +lower end of the room; "he will show you the lesson, and let you +look over his book. Barker, let Williams look over you!"</p> +<p>Eric went and sat down at the end of a bench by the boy +indicated. He was a rough-looking fellow, with a shock head of +black hair, and a very dogged look. Eric secretly thought that he +wasn't a very nice-looking specimen of Roslyn school. However, he +sate by him, and glanced at the Cesar which the boy shoved about a +quarter of an inch in his direction. But Barker didn't seem +inclined to make any further advances, and presently Eric asked in +a whisper,</p> +<p>"What's the lesson?"</p> +<p>The boy glanced at him, but took no further notice.</p> +<p>Eric repeated, "I say, what's the lesson?"</p> +<p>Instead of answering, Barker stared at him, and grunted,</p> +<p>"What's your name?"</p> +<p>"Eric--I mean Williams."</p> +<p>"Then why don't you say what you mean?"</p> +<p>Eric moved his foot impatiently at this ungracious reception; +but as he seemed to have no redress, he pulled the Cesar nearer +towards him.</p> +<p>"Drop that; 't isn't yours."</p> +<p>Mr. Gordon heard a whisper, and glanced that way. "Silence!" he +said, and Barker pretended to be deep in his work, while Eric, +resigning himself to his fate, looked about him.</p> +<p>He had plenty to occupy his attention in the faces round him. He +furtively examined Mr. Gordon, as he bent over his high desk, +writing, but couldn't make our the physiognomy. There had been +something reserved and imperious in the master's manner, yet he +thought he should not dislike him on the whole. With the +countenances of his future schoolfellows he was not altogether +pleased, but there were one or two which thoroughly attracted him. +One boy, whose side face was turned towards him as he sat on the +bench in front, took his fancy particularly, so, tired of doing +nothing, he plucked up courage, and leaning forward whispered, "Do +lend me your Cesar for a few minutes." The boy at once handed it to +him with a pleasant smile, and as the lesson was marked, Eric had +time to hurry over a few sentences, when Mr. Gordon's sonorous +voice exclaimed,</p> +<p>"Fourth form, come up!"</p> +<p>Some twenty of the boys went up, and stood in a large semicircle +round the desk. Eric of course was placed last, and the lesson +commenced.</p> +<p>"Russell, begin," said the master; and immediately the boy who +had handed Eric his Caesar, began reading a few sentences, and +construed them very creditably, only losing a place or two. He had +a frank open face, bright intelligent fearless eyes, and a very +taking voice and manner. Eric listened admiringly and felt sure he +should like him.</p> +<p>Barker was put on next. He bungled through the Latin in a +grating irresolute sort of a way, with several false quantities, +for each of which the next boy took him up. Then he began to +construe;--a frightful confusion of nominatives without verbs, +accusatives translated as ablatives, and perfects turned into +prepositions ensued, and after a hopeless flounder, during which +Mr. Gordon left him entirely to himself, Barker came to a full +stop; his catastrophe was so ludicrous, that Eric could not help +joining in the general titter Barker scowled.</p> +<p>"As usual, Barker," said the master, with a curl of the lip. +"Hold out your hand!"</p> +<p>Barker did so, looking sullen defiance, and the cane immediately +descended on his open palm. Six similar cuts followed, during which +the form looked on, not without terror; and Barker, squeezing his +hands tight together, went back to his seat.</p> +<p>"Williams, translate the piece in which Barker has just +failed!"</p> +<p>Eric did as he was bid, and got through it pretty well. He had +now quite recovered his ordinary bearing, and spoke out clearly and +without nervousness. He afterwards won several places by answering +questions, and at the end of the lesson was marked about half-way +up the form. The boys' numbers were then taken down in the weekly +register, and they went back to their seats.</p> +<p>On his desk Eric found a torn bit of paper, on which was +clumsily scrawled, "I'll teach you to grin when I'm turned, you +young brute."</p> +<p>The paper seemed to fascinate his eyes. He stared at it fixedly, +and augured ominously of Barker's intentions, since that worthy +obviously alluded to his having smiled in form, and chose to +interpret it as an intentional provocation. He felt that he was in +for it, and that Barker meant to pick a quarrel with him. This +puzzled and annoyed him, and he felt very sad to have found an +enemy already.</p> +<p>While he was looking at the paper, the great school-clock struck +twelve; and the captain of the form getting up, threw open the +folding-doors of the school-room.</p> +<p>"You may go," said Mr. Gordon; and leaving his seat disappeared +by a door at the further end of the room.</p> +<p>Instantly there was a rash for caps, and the boys poured out in +a confused and noisy stream, while at the same moment the other +school-rooms disgorged their inmates. Eric naturally went out among +the last; but just as he was going to take his cap, Barker seized +it, and flung it with a whoop to the end of the passage, where it +was trampled on by a number of the boys as they ran out.</p> +<p>Eric, gulping down his fury with a great effort, turned to his +opponent, and said coolly, "Is that what you always do to new +fellows?"</p> +<p>"Yes, you bumptious young owl, it is, and that too;" and a +tolerably smart slap on the face followed--leaving a red mark on a +cheek already aflame with, anger and indignation,--"should you like +a little more?"</p> +<p>He was hurt, both mind and body, but was too proud to cry. +"What's that for?" he said, with flashing eyes.</p> +<p>"For your conceit in laughing at me when I was caned."</p> +<p>Eric stamped. "I did nothing of the kind, and you know it as +well as I do."</p> +<p>"What! I'm a liar, am I? O we shall take this kind of thing out +of you, you young cub--take that;" and a heavier blow followed.</p> +<p>"You brutal cowardly bully," shouted Eric; and in another moment +he would have sprung upon him. It was lucky for him that he did +not, for Barker was three years older than he, and very powerful. +Such an attack would hare been most unfortunate for him in every +way. But at this instant some boys hearing the quarrel ran up, and +Russell among them.</p> +<p>"Hallo, Barker," said one, "what's up?"</p> +<p>"Why, I'm teaching this new fry to be less bumptious, that's +all."</p> +<p>"Shame!" said Russell, as he saw the mark on Eric's cheek; "what +a fellow you are, Barker. Why couldn't you leave him alone for his +first day, at any rate?"</p> +<p>"What's that to you? I'll kick you too, if you say much."</p> +<p>"Cavè, cavè!" whispered half a dozen voices, and +instantly the knot of boys dispersed in every direction, as Mr. +Gordon was seen approaching. He had caught a glimpse of the scene +without understanding it, and seeing the new boy's red and angry +face, he only said, as he passed by, "What, Williams! fighting +already? Take care."</p> +<p>This was the cruellest cut of all. "So," thought Eric, "a nice +beginning! it seems both boys and masters are against me;" and very +disconsolately he walked to pick up his cap.</p> +<p>The boys were all dispersed in the play-ground at different +games, and as he went home he was stopped perpetually, and had to +answer the usual questions, "What's your name? Are you a boarder or +a day scholar? What form are you in?" Eric expected all this, and +it therefore did not annoy him. Under any other circumstances, he +would have answered cheerfully and frankly enough; but now he felt +miserable at his morning's rencontre, and his answers were short +and sheepish, his only desire being to get away as soon as +possible. It was an additional vexation to feel sure that his +manner did not make a favorable impression.</p> +<p>Before he had got out of the play ground, Russell ran up to him. +"I'm afraid you won't like this, or think much of us, Williams," he +said. "But never mind. It'll only last a day or two, and the +fellows are not so bad as they seem; except that Barker. I'm sorry +you've come across him, but it can't be helped."</p> +<p>It was the first kind word he had had since the morning, and +after his troubles kindness melted him. He felt half inclined to +cry, and for a few moments could say nothing in reply to Russell's +soothing words. But the boy's friendliness went far to comfort him, +and at last, shaking hands with him, he said--</p> +<p>"Do let me speak to you sometimes, while I am a new boy, +Russell."</p> +<p>"O yes," said Russell, laughing, "as much as ever you like. And +as Barker hates me pretty much as he seems inclined to hate you, we +are in the same box. Good bye."</p> +<p>So Eric left the field, and wandered home, like Calchas in the +Iliad, "Sorrowful by the side of the sounding sea." Already the +purple mantle had fallen from his ideal of schoolboy life. He got +home later than they expected, and found his parents waiting for +him. It was rather disappointing to them to see his face so +melancholy, when they expected him to be full of animation and +pleasure. Mrs. Williams drew her own conclusions from the red mark +on his cheek, as well as the traces of tears welling to his eyes; +but, like a wise mother, she asked nothing, and left the boy to +tell his own story,--which, in time he did, omitting all the +painful part, speaking enthusiastically of Russell, and only +admitting that he had been a little teased.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> +<br> +<h3>BULLYING</h3> +<blockquote>"Give to the morn of life its natural blessedness." +Wordsworth.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>Why is it that new boys are almost invariably ill-treated? I +have often fancied that there must be in boyhood a +pseudo-instinctive cruelty, a sort of "wild trick of the ancestral +savage," which, no amount of civilization can entirely repress. +Certain it is, that to most boys the first term is a trying ordeal. +They are being tested and weighed. Their place in the general +estimation is not yet fixed, and the slightest circumstances are +seized upon to settle the category under which the boy is to be +classed. A few apparently trivial accidents of his first few weeks +at school often decide his position in the general regard for the +remainder of his boyhood. And yet these are <i>not</i> accidents; +they are the slight indications which give an unerring proof of the +general tendencies of his character and training. Hence much of the +apparent cruelty with which new boys are treated is not exactly +intentional. At first, of course, as they can have no friends worth +speaking of, there are always plenty of coarse and brutal minds +that take a pleasure in their torment, particularly if they at once +recognise any innate superiority to themselves. Of this class was +Barker. He hated Eric at first sight, simply because his feeble +mind could only realise one idea about him, and that was the new +boy's striking contrast with his own imperfections. Hence he left +no means untried to vent on Eric his low and mean jealousy. He +showed undisguised pleasure when he fell in form, and signs of +disgust when he rose; he fomented every little source of +disapproval or quarrelling which happened to arise against him; he +never looked at him without a frown or a sneer; he waited for him +to kick and annoy him as he came out of, or went into, the +school-room. In fact, he did his very best to make the boy's life +miserable, and the occupation of hating him seemed in some measure +to fill up the vacuity of an ill-conditioned and degraded mind.</p> +<p>Hatred is a most mysterious and painful phenomenon to the +unhappy person who is the object of it, and more especially if he +have incurred it by no one assignable reason. To Eric it was +peculiarly painful; he was utterly unprepared for it. In his bright +joyous life at Fairholm, in the little he saw of the boys at the +Latin school, he had met with nothing but kindness and caresses, +and the generous nobleness of his character had seemed to claim +them as a natural element. "And now, why," he asked impatiently, +"should this bull-dog sort of fellow have set his whole aim to +annoy, vex, and hurt me?" Incapable himself of so mean a spirit of +jealousy at superior excellence, he could not make it out; but +such, was the fact, and the very mysteriousness of it made it more +intolerable to bear.</p> +<p>But it must be admitted that he made matters worse by his own +bursts of passion. His was not the temper to turn the other cheek; +but, brave and spirited as he was, he felt how utterly hopeless +would be any attempt on his part to repel force by force. He would +have tried some slight conciliation, but it was really impossible +with such a boy as his enemy. Barker never gave him even so much as +an indifferent look, much less a civil word. Eric loathed him, and +the only good and happy part of the matter to his own mind was, +that conscientiously his only desire was to get rid of him and be +left alone, while he never cherished a particle of revenge.</p> +<p>While every day Eric was getting on better in form, and winning +himself a very good position with the other boys, who liked his +frankness, his mirth, his spirit, and cleverness, he felt this feud +with Barker like a dark background to all his enjoyment. He even +had to manoeuvre daily how to escape him, and violent scenes were +of constant occurrence between them. Eric could not, and would not, +brook his bullying with silence. His resentment was loud and +stinging, and, Ishmaelite as Barker was, even <i>his</i> phlegmatic +temperament took fire when Eric shouted his fierce and +uncompromising retorts in the hearing of the others.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Eric was on the best of terms with the rest of the +form, and such of the other boys as he knew, although, at first, +his position as a home-boarder prevented his knowing many. Besides +Russell, there were three whom he liked best, and respected +most--Duncan, Montagu, and Owen. They were very different boys, but +all of them had qualities which well deserved his esteem. Duncan +was the most boyish of boys, intensely full of fun, good-nature, +and vigor; with fair abilities, he never got on well, because he +could not be still for two minutes, and even if, in some fit of +sudden ambition, he got up high in the form, he was sure to be put +to the bottom again before the day was over, for trifling or +talking. But out of school he was the soul of every game; whatever +<i>he</i> took up was sure to be done pleasantly, and no party of +amusement was ever planned without endeavoring to secure him as one +of the number.</p> +<p>Montagu's chief merit was, that he was such a thorough little +gentleman; "such a jolly little fellow" every one said of him. +Without being clever or athletic, he managed to do very fairly both +at work and at the games, and while he was too exclusive to make +many <i>intimate</i> friends, everybody liked walking about or +talking with him. Even Barker, blackguard as he was, seemed to be a +little uneasy when confronted with Montagu's naturally noble and +chivalrous bearing. In nearly all respects his influence was +thoroughly good, and few boys were more generally popular.</p> +<p>Owen, again, was a very different boy. His merit was a ceaseless +diligence, in which it was doubtful whether ambition or +conscientiousness had the greatest share. Reserved and thoughtful, +unfitted for or indifferent to most games, he was anything but a +favorite with the rest, and Eric rather respected than liked him. +When he first came, he had been one of the most natural butts for +Barker's craving ill-nature, and for a time he had been +tremendously bullied. But gradually his mental superiority asserted +itself. He took everything without tears and without passion, and +this diminished the pleasure of annoying him. One day when Barker +had given him an unprovoked kick, he quietly said,</p> +<p>"Barker, next time you do that, I'll tell Mr. Gordon."</p> +<p>"Sneak! do it if you dare." And he kicked him again; but the +moment after he was sorry for it, for there was a dark look in +Owen's eyes, as he turned instantly into the door of the master's +room, and laid a formal complaint against Barker for bullying.</p> +<p>Mr. Gordon didn't like "telling," and he said so to Owen, +without reserve. An ordinary boy would have broken into a flood of +explanations and palliations, but Owen simply bowed, and said +nothing. "He stood there for justice," and he had counted the cost. +Strong-minded and clear-headed, he calculated correctly that the +momentary dislike of his schoolfellows, with whom he well knew that +he never could be popular, would be less unbearable than Barker's +villanous insults. The consequence was that Barker was caned +soundly, although, with some injustice, Mr. Gordon made no attempt +to conceal that he did it unwillingly.</p> +<p>Of course the fellows were very indignant with Owen for +sneaking, as they called it, and for a week or two he had the keen +mortification of seeing "Owen is a sneak," written up all about the +walls. But he was too proud or too cold to make any defence till +called upon, and bore it in silence. Barker vowed eternal +vengeance, and the very day after, had seized Owen with the avowed +intention of "half murdering him." But before he could once strike +him, Owen said in the most chill tone, "Barker, if you touch me, I +shall go straight to Dr. Rowlands." The bully well knew that Owen +never broke his word, but he could not govern his rage, and first +giving Owen a violent shake, he proceeded to thrash him without +limit or remorse.</p> +<p>Pale, but unmoved, Owen got away, and walked straight to Dr. +Rowlands' door. The thing was unheard of, and the boys were amazed +at his temerity, for the doctor was to all their imaginations a +regular <i>Deus ex machinâ.</i> That afternoon, again Barker +was publicly caned, with the threat that the next offence would be +followed by instant and public expulsion. This punishment he +particularly dreaded, because he was intended for the army, and he +well knew that it might ruin his prospects. The consequence was, +that Owen never suffered from him again, although he daily received +a shower of oaths and curses, which he passed over with silent +contempt.</p> +<p>My dear boy-reader, don't suppose that I want you to imitate +Owen in this matter. I despise a boy who "tells" as much as you do, +and it is a far better and braver thing to bear bullying with such +a mixture of spirit and good humor, as in time to disarm it. But +Owen was a peculiar boy, and remember he had <i>no</i> redress. He +bore for a time, until he felt that he <i>must</i> have the justice +and defence, without which it would have been impossible for him to +continue at Roslyn school.</p> +<p>But why, you ask, didn't he tell the monitors? Unfortunately at +Roslyn the monitorial system was not established. Although it was a +school of 250 boys, the sixth form, with all their privileges, had +no prerogative of authority. They hadn't the least right to +interfere, because no such power had been delegated to them, and +therefore they felt themselves merely on a par with the rest, +except for such eminence as their intellectual superiority gave +them. The consequence was, that any interference from them would +have been of a simply individual nature, and was exerted very +rarely. It would have done Owen no more good to tell a sixth-form +boy, than to tell any other boy; and as he was not a favorite, he +was not likely to find any champion to fight his battles or +maintain his just rights.</p> +<p>All this had happened before Eric's time, and he heard it from +his best friend Russell. His heart clave to that boy. They became +friends at once by a kind of electric sympathy; the first glance of +each at the other's face prepared the friendship, and every day of +acquaintance more firmly cemented it. Eric could not have had a +better friend; not so clever as himself, not so diligent as Owen, +not so athletic as Duncan, or so fascinating as Montagu, Russell +combined the best qualities of them all. And, above all, he acted +invariably from the highest principle; he presented that noblest of +all noble spectacles--one so rare that many think it +impossible--the spectacle of an honorable, pure-hearted, happy boy, +who, as his early years speed by, is ever growing in wisdom, and +stature, and favor with God and man.</p> +<p>"Did that brute Barker ever bully you as he bullies me?" said +Eric, one day, as he walked on the sea-shore with his friend.</p> +<p>"Yes," said Russell; "I slept in his dormitory when I first +came, and he has often made me so wretched that I have flung myself +on my knees at night in pretence of prayer, but really to get a +little quiet time to cry like a child."</p> +<p>"And when was it he left off at last?"</p> +<p>"Why, you know, Upton in the fifth is my cousin, and very fond +of me; he heard of it, though I didn't say anything about it, and +told Barker that if ever he caught him at it, he would thrash him +within an inch of his life; and that frightened him for one thing. +Besides, Duncan, Montagu, and other friends of mine began to cut +him in consequence, so he thought it best to leave off."</p> +<p>"How is it, Russell, that fellows stand by and let him do +it?"</p> +<p>"You see, Williams," said Russell, "Barker is an enormously +strong fellow, and that makes the younger chaps, whom he fags, look +up to him as a great hero. And there isn't one in our part of the +school who can thrash him. Besides, people never do interfere, you +know--at least not often. I remember once seeing a street-row in +London, at which twenty people stood by, and let a drunken beast of +a husband strike his wife without ever stirring to defend her."</p> +<p>"Well," sighed Eric, "I hope my day of deliverance will come +soon, for I can't stand it much longer, and 'tell' I won't, +whatever Owen may do."</p> +<p>Eric's deliverance came very soon. It was afternoon; the boys +were playing at different games in the green playground, and he was +waiting for his turn at rounders. At this moment Barker lounged up, +and calmly snatching off Eric's cap, shied it over Dr. Rowlands' +garden wall. "There, go and fetch that."</p> +<p>"You blackguard!" said Eric, standing irresolutely for a few +minutes; and then with tears in his eyes began to climb the wall. +It was not very high, but boys were peremptorily forbidden to get +over it under any circumstances, and Eric broke the rule not +without trepidation. However, he dropped down on one of Mrs. +Rowlands' flower-beds, and got his cap in a hurry, and clambered +back undiscovered.</p> +<p>He thought this would have satisfied his tormentor for one day; +but Barker was in a mischievous mood, so he again came up to Eric, +and calling out, "Who'll have a game at football?" again snatched +the cap, and gave it a kick; Eric tried to recover it, but every +time he came up Barker gave it a fresh kick, and finally kicked it +into a puddle.</p> +<p>Eric stood still, trembling with rage, while his eyes lightened +scorn and indignation. "You hulking, stupid, cowardly bully,"--here +Barker seized him, and every word brought a tremendous blow on the +head, but blind with passion Eric went on--"you despicable bully, I +won't touch that cap again, you shall pick it up yourself. Duncan, +Russell, here! do help me against this intolerable brute."</p> +<p>Several boys ran up, but they were all weaker than Barker, who +besides was now in a towering fury, and kicked Eric +unmercifully.</p> +<p>"Leave him alone," shouted Duncan, "or by heaven I'll get you a +sound thrashing from some fellow."</p> +<p>"I won't; mind your own business," growled Barker, shaking +himself free from Duncan's hand.</p> +<p>"Barker, I'll never speak to you again from this day," said +Montagu, turning on his heel with a look of withering contempt.</p> +<p>"What do I care? puppy, you want taking down too," was the +reply, and some more kicks at Eric followed.</p> +<p>"Barker, I won't stand this any longer," said Russell; and +seizing him by the arm, he dealt him a swinging blow on the +face.</p> +<p>The bully stood in amazement, and dropped Eric, who fell on the +turf nearly fainting, and bleeding at the nose. But now Russell's +turn came, and in a moment Barker, who was twice his weight, had +tripped him up, when he found himself collared in an iron +grasp.</p> +<p>There had been an unobserved spectator of the whole scene, in +the person of Mr. Williams himself, and it was his strong hand that +now griped Barker's shoulder. He was greatly respected by the boys, +who all knew his tall handsome figure by sight, and he frequently +stood a quiet and pleased observer of their games. The boys in the +playground came crowding round, and Barker in vain struggled to +escape. Mr. Williams held him firmly, and said in a calm voice, "I +have just seen you treat one of your schoolfellows with the +grossest violence. It makes me blush for you, Roslyn Boys," he +continued, turning to the group that surrounded him, "that you can +stand by unmoved, and see such things done. You know that you +despise any one who tells a master, yet you allow this bullying to +go on, and that, too, without any provocation. Now, mark; it makes +no difference that the boy hurt is my own son; I would have +punished this scoundrel, whoever it had been, and I shall punish +him now." With these words he lifted the riding-whip which he +happened to be carrying, and gave Barker one of the most +satisfactory castigations he had ever undergone; the boys declared +that Dr. Rowlands' "swishings" were nothing to it. Mr. Williams saw +that the offender was a tough subject, and determined that he +should not soon forget the punishment he then received. He had +never heard from Eric how this boy had been treating him, but he +had heard it from Russell, and now he had seen one of the worst +specimens of it with his own eyes. He therefore belabored him till +his sullen obstinacy gave way to a roar for mercy, and promises +never so to offend again.</p> +<p>At this crisis he flung the boy from him with a "phew" of +disgust, and said, "I give nothing for your word; but if ever you +do bully in this way again, and I see or hear of it, your present +punishment shall be a trifle to what I shall then administer. At +present, thank me for not informing your master." So saying, he +made Barker pick up the cap, and, turning away, walked home with +Eric leaning on his arm.</p> +<p>Barker, too, carried himself off with the best grace he could; +but it certainly didn't mend matters when he heard numbers of +fellows, even little boys, say openly, "I'm so glad; serves you +right."</p> +<p>From that day Eric was never troubled with personal violence +from Barker or any other boy. But rancor smouldered deep in the +mind of the baffled tyrant, and, as we shall see hereafter, there +are subtler means of making an enemy wretched than striking or +kicking him.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<br> +<h3>CRIBBING</h3> +<blockquote>"Et nos ergo manum ferulæ subduximus."--Juv. i. +15.</blockquote> +<p>It must not be thought that Eric's year as a home boarder was +made up of dark experiences. Roslyn had a very bright as well as a +dark side, and Eric enjoyed it "to the finger-tips." School-life, +like all other life, is an April day of shower and sunshine. Its +joys may be more childish, its sorrows more trifling than those of +after years;--but they are more keenly felt.</p> +<p>And yet, although we know it to be a mere delusion, we all +idealise and idolise our childhood. The memory of it makes pleasant +purple in the distance, and as we look back on the sunlight of its +blue far-off hills, we forget how steep we sometimes found +them.</p> +<p>After Barker's discomfiture, which took place some three weeks +after his arrival, Eric liked the school more and more, and got +liked by it more and more. This might have been easily foreseen, +for he was the type of a thoroughly boyish mind in its more genial +and honorable characteristics, and his round of acquaintances daily +increased. Among others, a few of the sixth, who were also +day-scholars, began to notice and walk home with him. He looked on +them as great heroes, and their condescension much increased his +dignity both in his own estimation and that of his equals.</p> +<p>Now, too, he began to ask some of his most intimate +acquaintances to spend an evening with him sometimes at home. This +was a pleasure much coveted, for no boy ever saw Mrs. Williams +without loving her, and they felt themselves humanised by the +friendly interest of a lady who reminded every boy of his own +mother. Vernon, too, now a lively and active child of nine, was a +great pet among them, so that every one liked Eric who "knew him at +home." A boy generally shows his best side at home; the softening +shadows of a mother's tender influence play over him, and tone down +the roughness of boyish character. Duncan, Montagu, and Owen were +special favorites in the home circle, and Mrs. Williams felt truly +glad that her son had singled out friends who seemed, on the whole, +so desirable. But Montagu and Russell were the most frequent +visitors, and the latter became almost like one of the family; he +won so much on all their hearts that Mrs. Williams was not +surprised when Eric confided to her one day that he loved Russell +almost as well as be loved Vernon.</p> +<p>As Christmas approached, the boys began to take a lively +interest in the half-year's prizes, and Eric was particularly eager +about them. He had improved wonderfully, and as both his father and +mother prevented him from being idle, even had he been so inclined, +he had soon shown that he was one of the best in the form. Two +prizes were given, half-yearly to each remove; one for "marks" +indicating the boy who had generally been highest throughout the +half year, and the other for the test proofs of proficiency in a +special examination. It was commonly thought in the form that Owen +would get the first of these prizes, and Eric the other; and +towards the approach of the examination, he threw his whole energy +into the desire to win. The desire was not selfish. Some ambition +was of course natural; but he longed for the prize chiefly for the +delight which he knew his success would cause at Fairholm, and +still more to his own family.</p> +<p>During the last week, an untoward circumstance happened, which, +while it increased his popularity, diminished a good deal (as he +thought) his chance of success. The fourth form were learning a +Homer lesson, and Barker, totally unable to do it by his own +resources, was trying to borrow a crib. Eric, much to their mutual +disgust, still sat next to him in school, and would have helped him +if he had chosen to ask; but he never did choose, nor did Eric care +to volunteer. The consequence was, that unless he could borrow a +crib, he was invariably turned, and he was now particularly anxious +to get one, because the time was nearly up.</p> +<p>There was a certain idle, good-natured boy, named Llewellyn, who +had "cribs" to every book they did, and who, with a pernicious +<i>bonhommie,</i> lent them promiscuously to the rest, all of whom +were only too glad to avail themselves of the help, except the few +at the top of the form, who found it a slovenly way of learning the +lesson, which was sure to get them into worse difficulties than an +honest attempt to master the meaning for themselves. Llewellyn sat +at the farther end of the form in front, so Barker scribbled in the +fly-leaf of his book, "Please send us your Homer crib," and got the +book passed on to Llewellyn, who immediately shoved his crib in +Barker's direction. The only danger of the transaction being +noticed, was when the book was being handed from one bench to +another, and as Eric unluckily had an end seat, he had got into +trouble more than once.</p> +<p>On this occasion, just as Graham, the last boy on the form in +front, handed Eric the crib, Mr. Gordon happened to look up, and +Eric, very naturally anxious to screen another from trouble, popped +the book under his own Homer.</p> +<p>"Williams, what are you doing?"</p> +<p>"Nothing, Sir," said Eric, looking up innocently.</p> +<p>"Bring me that book under your Homer."</p> +<p>Eric blushed, hesitated--but at last, amid a dead silence, took +up the book. Mr. Gordon looked at it for a moment, let it fall on +the ground, and then, with an unnecessary affectation of disgust, +took it up with the tongs, and dropped it into the fire. There was +a titter round the room.</p> +<p>"Silence," thundered the master; "this is no matter for +laughing. So, sir, <i>this</i> is the way you get up to the top of +the form?"</p> +<p>"I wasn't using it, sir," said Eric.</p> +<p>"Not using it! Why, I saw you put it, open, under your +Homer."</p> +<p>"It isn't mine, sir."</p> +<p>"Then whose is it?" Mr. Gordon looked at the fly leaf, but of +course no name was there; in those days it was dangerous to write +one's name in a translation.</p> +<p>Eric was silent.</p> +<p>"Under the circumstances, Williams, I must punish you," said Mr. +Gordon. "Of course I am <i>bound</i> to believe you, but the +circumstances are very suspicious. You had no business with such a +book at all. Hold out your hand."</p> +<p>As yet, Eric had never been caned. It would have been easy for +him in this case to clear himself without mentioning names, but +(very rightly) he thought it unmanly to clamor about being +punished, and he felt nettled at Mr. Gordon's merely official +belief of his word. He knew that he had his faults, but certainly +want of honor was not among them. Indeed, there were only three +boys out of the twenty in the form, who did not resort to modes of +unfairness far worse than the use of cribs, and those three were +Russell, Owen, and himself; even Duncan, even Montagu, inured to it +by custom, were not ashamed to read their lesson off a concealed +book, or copy a date from a furtive piece of paper. They would have +been ashamed of it before they came to Roslyn school, but the +commonness of the habit had now made them blind or indifferent to +its meanness. It was peculiarly bad in the fourth form, because the +master treated them with implicit confidence, and being +scrupulously honorable himself, was unsuspicious of others. He was +therefore extremely indignant at this apparent discovery of an +attempt to overreach him in a boy so promising and so much of a +favorite as Eric Williams.</p> +<p>"Hold out your hand," he repeated.</p> +<p>Eric did so, and the cane tingled sharply across his palm. He +could bear the pain well enough, but he was keenly alive to the +disgrace; he, a boy at the head of his form, to be caned in this +way by a man who didn't understand him, and unjustly too! He +mustered up an indifferent air, closed his lips tight, and +determined to give no further signs. The defiance of his look made +Mr. Gordon angry, and he inflicted in succession five hard cuts on +either hand, each one of which, was more excruciating than the +last.</p> +<p>"Now, go to your seat."</p> +<p>Eric did go to his seat, with all his bad passions roused, and +he walked in a jaunty and defiant kind of way that made the master +really grieve at the disgrace into which he had fallen. But he +instantly became a hero with the form, who unanimously called him a +great brick for not telling, and admired him immensely for bearing +up without crying under so severe a punishment. The punishment +<i>was</i> most severe, and for some weeks after there were dark +weals visible across Eric's palm, which rendered the use of his +hands painful.</p> +<p>"Poor Williams," said Duncan, as they went out of school, "how +very plucky of you not to cry."</p> +<blockquote>"Vengeance deep brooding o'er the <i>cane</i>,<br> + Had locked the source of softer woe;<br> +And burning pride, and high disdain,<br> + Forbade the gentler tear to flow,"</blockquote> +<p>said Eric, with a smile.</p> +<p>But he only bore up until he got home, and there, while he was +telling his father the occurrence, he burst into a storm of +passionate tears, mingled with the fiercest invectives against Mr. +Gordon for his injustice.</p> +<p>"Never mind, Eric," said his father; "only take care that you +never get a punishment <i>justly</i>, and I shall always be as +proud of you as I am now. And don't cherish this resentment, my +boy; it will only do you harm. Try to forgive and forget."</p> +<p>"But, Papa, Mr. Gordon is so hasty. I have indeed been rather a +favorite of his, yet now he shows that he has no confidence in me. +It is a great shame that he shouldn't believe my word. I don't mind +the pain; but I shan't like him any more, and I'm sure, now, I +shan't get the examination prize."</p> +<p>"You don't mean, Eric, that he will be influenced by partiality +in the matter?"</p> +<p>"No, Papa, not exactly; at least I dare say he won't +<i>intend</i> to be. But it is unlucky to be on bad terms with a +master, and I know I shan't work so well."</p> +<p>On the whole, the boy was right in thinking this incident a +misfortune. Although he had nothing particular for which to blame +himself, yet the affair had increased his pride, while it lowered +his self-respect; and he had an indistinct consciousness that the +popularity in his form would do him as much harm as the change of +feeling in his master. He grew careless and dispirited, nor was it +till in the very heat of the final competition, that he felt his +energies fully revived.</p> +<p>Half the form were as eager about the examination as the other +half were indifferent; but none were more eager than Eric. He was +much hindered by Barker's unceasing attempt to copy his papers +surreptitiously; and very much disgusted at the shameless way in +which many of the boys "cribbed" from books, and from each other, +or used torn leaves concealed in their sleeves, or dates written on +their wristbands, and on their nails. He saw how easily much of +this might have been prevented; but Mr. Gordon was fresh at his +work, and had not yet learnt the practical lesson, that to trust +young boys to any great extent, is really to increase their +temptations. He <i>did</i> learn the lesson afterwards, and then +almost entirely suppressed the practice, partly by increased +vigilance, and partly by forbidding <i>any</i> book to be brought +into the room during the time of examination. But meanwhile, much +evil had been done by the habitual abuse of his former +confidence.</p> +<p>I shall not linger over the examination. At its close, the day +before the breaking-up, the list was posted on the door of the +great school-room, and most boys made an impetuous rush to see the +result. But Eric was too nervous to be present at the hour when +this was usually done, and he had asked Russell to bring him the +news.</p> +<p>He was walking up and down the garden, counting the number of +steps he took, counting the number of shrubs along each path, and +devising every sort of means to beguile the time, when he heard +hasty steps, and Russell burst in at the back gate, breathless with +haste, and bright with excitement.</p> +<p>"Hurrah! old fellow," he cried, seizing both Eric's hands; "I +never felt so glad in my life;" and he shook his friend's arms up +and down, laughing joyously.</p> +<p>"Well! tell me," said Eric.</p> +<p>"First, {Owen/Williams} Aequales," "you've got head remove you +see, in spite of your forebodings, as I always said you would; and +I congratulate you with all my heart."</p> +<p>"No?" said Eric, "have I really?--you're not joking? Oh! +hurrah!--I must rush in and tell them;" and he bounded off.</p> +<p>In a second he was back at Russell's side. "What a selfish +animal I am! Where are you placed, Russell?"</p> +<p>"Oh! magnificent; I'm third;--far higher than I expected."</p> +<p>"I'm so glad," said Eric. "Come in with me and tell them. I'm +head remove, mother," he shouted, springing into the parlor where +his father and mother sat.</p> +<p>In the lively joy that this announcement excited, Russell stood +by for the moment unheeded; and when Eric took him by the hand to +tell them that he was third, he hung his head, and a tear was in +his eye.</p> +<p>"Poor boy! I'm afraid you're disappointed," said Mrs. Williams +kindly, drawing him to her side.</p> +<p>"Oh no, no! it's not <i>that</i>," said Russell, hastily, as he +lifted his swimming eyes towards her face.</p> +<p>"Are you hurt, Russell?" asked Eric, surprised.</p> +<p>"Oh! no; don't ask me; I am only foolish to-day;" and with a +burst of sorrow he flung his arms round Mrs. Williams' neck. She +folded him to her heart, and kissed him tenderly; and when his sobs +would let him speak, he whispered to her in a low tone, "It is but +a year since I became an orphan."</p> +<p>"Dearest child," she said, "look on me as a mother; I love you +very dearly for your own sake as well as Eric's."</p> +<p>Gradually he grew calmer. They made him stay to dinner and spend +the rest of the day there, and by the evening he had recovered all +his usual sprightliness. Towards sunset he and Eric went for a +stroll down the bay, and talked over the term and the +examination.</p> +<p>They sat down on a green bank just beyond the beach, and watched +the tide come in, while the sea-distance was crimson with the glory +of evening. The beauty and the murmur filled them with a quiet +happiness, not untinged with the melancholy thought of parting the +next day.</p> +<p>At last Eric broke the silence. "Russell, let me always call you +Edwin, and call me Eric."</p> +<p>"Very gladly, Eric. Your coming here has made me so happy." And +the two boys squeezed each other's hands, and looked into each +other's faces, and silently promised that they would be loving +friends for ever.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> +<br> +<h3>THE SECOND TERM</h3> +<blockquote>"Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil our +vines; for our<br> +vines have tender grapes."--CANT. ii. 15.</blockquote> +<p>The second term at school is generally the great test of the +strength of a boy's principles and resolutions. During the first +term the novelty, the loneliness, the dread of unknown punishments, +the respect for authorities, the desire to measure himself with his +companions--all tend to keep him right and diligent. But many of +these incentives are removed after the first brush of novelty, and +many a lad who has given good promise at first, turns out, after a +short probation, idle, or vicious, or indifferent.</p> +<p>But there was little comparative danger for Eric, so long as he +continued to be a home boarder, which was for another half-year. On +the contrary, he was anxious to support in his new remove the +prestige of having been head boy; and as he still continued under +Mr. Gordon, he really wished to turn over a new leaf in his conduct +towards him, and recover, if possible, his lost esteem.</p> +<p>His popularity was a fatal snare. He enjoyed and was very proud +of it, and was half inclined to be angry with Russell for not fully +sharing his feelings; but Russell had a far larger experience of +school life than his new friend, and dreaded with all his heart +lest "he should follow a multitude to do evil."</p> +<p>The "cribbing," which had astonished and pained Eric at first, +was more flagrant than even in the Upper Fourth, and assumed a +chronic form. In all the repetition lessons one of the boys used to +write out in a large hand the passage to be learnt by heart, and +dexterously pin it to the front of Mr. Gordon's desk. There any boy +who chose could read it off with little danger of detection, and, +as before, the only boys who refused to avail themselves of this +trickery were Eric, Russell, and Owen.</p> +<p>Eric did <i>not</i> yield to it; never once did he suffer his +eyes to glance at the paper when his turn to repeat came round. But +although this was the case, he never spoke against the practice to +the other boys, even when he lost places by it. Nay more, he would +laugh when any one told him how he had escaped "skewing" +(<i>i.e.</i> being turned) by reading it off; and he even went so +far as to allow them to suppose that he wouldn't himself object to +take advantage of the master's unsuspicious confidence.</p> +<p>"I say, Williams," said Duncan, one morning as they strolled +into the school-yard, "do you know your Rep.?"</p> +<p>"No," said Eric, "not very well; I haven't given more than ten +minutes to it."</p> +<p>"Oh, well, never mind it now; come and have a game at racquets? +Russel and Montagu have taken the court."</p> +<p>"But I shall skew."</p> +<p>"Oh no, you needn't, you know. I'll take care to pin it up on +the desk near you."</p> +<p>"Well, I don't much care. At any rate I'll chance it." And off +the boys ran to the racquet-court, Eric intending to occupy the +last quarter of an hour before school-time in learning his lesson. +Russell and he stood the other two, and they were very well +matched. They had finished two splendid games, and each side had +been victorious in turn, when Duncan, in the highest spirits, +shouted, "Now, Russell, for the conqueror."</p> +<p>"Get some one else in my place," said Russell; "I don't know my +Rep., and must cut and learn it."</p> +<p>"O bother the Rep.," said Montagu; "somebody's sure to write it +out in school, and old Gordon'll never see."</p> +<p>"You forget, Montagu, I never condescend to that."</p> +<p>"O ay, I forgot. Well, after all, you're quite right; I only +wish I was as good."</p> +<p>"What a capital fellow he is," continued Montagu, leaning on his +racquet and looking after him, as Russell left the court; "but I +say, Williams, you're not going too, are you?"</p> +<p>"I think I must, I don't know half my lesson."</p> +<p>"O no! don't go; there's Llewellyn; he'll take Russell's place, +and we <i>must</i> have the conquering game."</p> +<p>Again Eric yielded; and when the clock struck he ran into +school, hot, vexed with himself, and certain to break down, just as +Russell strolled in, whispering, "I've had lots of time to get up +the Horace, and know it pat."</p> +<p>Still he clung to the little thistledown of hope that he should +have plenty of time to cram it before the form were called up. But +another temptation awaited him. No sooner was he seated than Graham +whispered, "Williams, it's your turn to write out the Horace; I did +last time, you know."</p> +<p>Poor Eric. He was reaping the fruits of his desire to keep up +popularity, by never denying his complicity in the general +cheating. Everybody seemed to assume now that <i>he</i> at any rate +didn't think much of it, and he had never claimed his real right up +to that time of asserting his innocence. But this was a step +further than he had ever gone before. He drew back--</p> +<p>"My <i>turn</i>, what do you mean?"</p> +<p>"Why, you know as well as I do that we all write it out by +turns."</p> +<p>"Do you mean to say that Owen or Russell ever wrote it out?"</p> +<p>"Of course not; you wouldn't expect the saints to be guilty of +such a thing, would you?"</p> +<p>"I'd rather not, Graham," he said, getting very red.</p> +<p>"Well, that <i>is</i> cowardly," answered Graham, angrily; "then +I suppose I must do it myself."</p> +<p>"Here, I'll do it," said Eric suddenly; "shy us the paper."</p> +<p>His conscience smote him bitterly. In his silly dread of giving +offence, he was doing what he heartily despised, and he felt most +uncomfortable.</p> +<p>"There," he said, pushing the paper from him in a pet; "I've +written it, and I'll have nothing more to do with it."</p> +<p>Just as he finished they were called up, and Barker, taking the +paper, succeeded in pinning it as usual on the front of the desk. +Eric had never seen it done so carelessly and clumsily before, and +firmly believed, what was indeed a fact, that Barker had done it +badly on purpose, in the hope that it might be discovered, and so +Eric be got once more into a scrape. He was in an agony of +apprehension, and when put on, was totally unable to say a word of +his Rep. But low as he had fallen, he would not cheat like the +rest; he kept his eyes resolutely turned away from the guilty +paper, and even refused to repeat the words which were prompted in +his ear by the boys on each side. Mr. Gordon, after waiting a +moment, said--</p> +<p>"Why, Sir, you know nothing about it; you can't have looked at +it. Go to the bottom and write it out five times."</p> +<p>"<i>Write it out</i>" thought Eric; "this is retribution, I +suppose;" and covered with shame and vexation, he took his place +below the malicious Barker at the bottom of the form.</p> +<p>It happened that during the lesson the fire began to smoke, and +Mr. Gordon told Owen to open the window for a moment. No sooner was +this done than the mischievous whiff of sea air which entered the +room began to trifle and coquet with the perdulous half sheet +pinned in front of the desk, causing thereby an unwonted little +pattering crepitation. In alarm, Duncan thoughtlessly pulled out +the pin, and immediately the paper floated gracefully over +Russell's head, as he sat at the top of the form, and, after one or +two gyrations, fluttered down in the centre of the room.</p> +<p>"Bring me that piece of paper," said Mr. Gordon, full of vague +suspicion.</p> +<p>Several boys moved uneasily, and Eric looked nervously +around.</p> +<p>"Did you hear? fetch me that half sheet of paper."</p> +<p>A boy picked it up and handed it to him. He held it for a full +minute in his hands without a word, while vexation, deep disgust, +and rising anger struggled in his countenance. At last, he suddenly +turned full on Eric, whose writing he recognized, and broke +out,</p> +<p>"So, Sir! a second time caught in gross deceit. I should not +have thought it possible. Your face and manners belie you. You have +lost my confidence forever. I <i>despise</i> you."</p> +<p>"Indeed, Sir," said the penitent Eric, "I never meant--"</p> +<p>"Silence--you are detected, as cheats always will be. I shall +report you to Dr. Rowlands."</p> +<p>The next boy was put on, and broke down. The same with the next, +and the next, and the next; Montagu, Graham, Llewellyn, Duncan, +Barker, all hopeless failures; only two boys had said it +right--Russell and Owen.</p> +<p>Mr. Gordon's face grew blacker and blacker. The deep undisguised +pain which the discovery caused him was swallowed up in unbounded +indignation. "False-hearted, dishonorable boys," he exclaimed, +"henceforth my treatment of you shall be very different. The whole +form, except Russell and Owen, shall have an extra lesson every +half-holiday; not one of the rest of you will I trust again. I took +you for gentlemen. I was mistaken. Go." And so saying, he waved +them to their seats with imperious disdain.</p> +<p>They went, looking sheepish, and ashamed. Eric, deeply vexed, +kept twisting and untwisting a bit of paper, without raising his +eyes, and even Barker thoroughly repented his short-sighted +treachery; the rest were silent and miserable.</p> +<p>At twelve o'clock two boys lingered in the room to speak to Mr. +Gordon; they were Eric Williams and Edwin Russell, but they were +full of very different feelings.</p> +<p>Eric stepped to the desk first. Mr. Gordon looked up.</p> +<p>"You! Williams, I wonder that you have the audacity to speak to +me. Go--I have nothing to say to you!"</p> +<p>"But, sir, I want to tell you that--"</p> +<p>"Your guilt is only too clear, Williams. You will hear more of +this. Go, I tell you."</p> +<p>Eric's passion overcame him; he stamped furiously on the ground, +and burst out, "I <i>will</i> speak, sir; you have been unjust to +me for a long time, but I will <i>not</i> be--"</p> +<p>Mr. Gordon's cane fell sharply across the boy's back; he +stopped, glared for a moment; and then saying:</p> +<p>"Very well, sir! I shall tell Dr. Rowlands that you strike +before you hear me," he angrily left the room, and slammed the door +violently behind him.</p> +<p>Before Mr. Gordon had time to recover from his astonishment, +Russell stood by him.</p> +<p>"Well, my boy," said the master, softening in a moment, and +laying his hand gently on Russell's head, "what have you to say? +You cannot tell how I rejoice, amid the deep sorrow that this has +caused me, to find that <i>you</i> at least are uncontaminated. But +I <i>knew</i>, Edwin, that I could trust you."</p> +<p>"O sir, I come to speak for Eric--for Williams." Mr. Gordon's +brow darkened again, and the storm gathered, as he interrupted +vehemently, "Not a word, Russell; not a word. This is the +<i>second</i> time that he has wilfully deceived me; and this time +he has involved others too in his base deceit."</p> +<p>"Indeed, sir, you wrong him. I can't think how he came to write +the paper, but I <i>know</i> that he did not and would not use it. +Didn't you see yourself, sir, how he turned his head quite another +way when he broke down."</p> +<p>"It is very kind of you, Edwin, to defend him," said Mr. Gordon +coldly, "but at present, at any rate, I must not hear you. Leave +me; I feel very sad, and must have time to think over this +disgraceful affair."</p> +<p>Russell went away disconsolate, and met his friend striding up +and down, the passage, waiting for Dr. Rowlands to come out of the +library.</p> +<p>"O Eric," he said, "how came you to write that paper?"</p> +<p>"Why, Russell, I did feel very much ashamed, and I would have +explained it, and said so; but that Gordon spites me so. It is such +a shame; I don't feel now as if I cared one bit."</p> +<p>"I am sorry you don't get on with him; but remember you have +given him in this case good cause to suspect. You never crib, Eric, +I know, but I can't help being sorry that you wrote the paper."</p> +<p>"But then Graham asked me to do it, and called me cowardly +because I refused at first."</p> +<p>"Ah, Eric," said Russell, "they will ask you to do worse things +if you yield so easily. I wouldn't say anything to Dr. Rowlands +about it, if I were you."</p> +<p>Eric took the advice, and, full of mortification, went home. He +gave his father a true and manly account of the whole occurrence, +and that afternoon Mr. Williams wrote a note of apology and +explanation to Mr. Gordon. Next time the form went up, Mr. Gordon +said, in his most freezing tones, "Williams, at present I shall +take no further notice of your offence beyond including you in the +extra lesson every half-holiday."</p> +<p>From that day forward Eric felt that he was marked and +suspected, and the feeling worked on him with the worst effects. He +grew more careless in work, and more trifling and indifferent in +manner. Several boys now beat him whom he had easily surpassed +before, and his energies were for a time entirely directed to +keeping that supremacy in the games which he had won by his +activity and strength.</p> +<p>It was a Sunday afternoon, towards the end of the summer term, +and the boys were sauntering about in the green playground, or +lying on the banks reading and chatting. Eric was with a little +knot of his chief friends, enjoying the sea breeze as they sat on +the grass. At last the bell of the school chapel began to ring, and +they went in to the afternoon service. Eric usually sat with Duncan +and Llewellyn, immediately behind the benches allotted to chance +visitors. The bench in front of them happened on this afternoon to +be occupied by some rather odd people, viz., an old man with long +white hair, and two ladies remarkably stout, who were dressed with +much juvenility, although past middle age. Their appearance +immediately attracted notice, and no sooner had they taken their +seats than Duncan and Llewellyn began to titter. The ladies' +bonnets, which were of white, trimmed with long green leaves and +flowers, just peered over the top of the boys' pew, and excited +much amusement. But Eric had not yet learnt to disregard the +solemnity of the place, and the sacred act in which they were +engaged. He tried to look away, and attend to the service, and for +a time he partially succeeded, although, seated as he was between +the two triflers, who were perpetually telegraphing to each other +their jokes, he found it a difficult task, and secretly he began to +be much tickled.</p> +<p>At last the sermon commenced, and Llewellyn, who had imprisoned +a grasshopper in a paper cage, suddenly let it hop out. The first +hop took it to the top of the pew; the second perched it on the +shoulder of the stoutest lady. Duncan and Llewellyn tittered +louder, and even Eric could not resist a smile. But when the lady, +feeling some irritation on her shoulder, raised her hand, and the +grasshopper took a frightened leap into the centre of the green +foliage which enwreathed her bonnet, none of the three could stand +it, and they burst into fits of laughter, which they tried in vain +to conceal by bending down their heads and cramming their +handkerchiefs into their mouths. Eric, having once given way, +enjoyed the joke uncontrollably, and the lady made matters worse by +her uneasy attempts to dislodge the unknown intruder, and discover +the cause of the tittering, which she could not help hearing. At +last all three began to laugh so violently that several heads were +turned in their direction, and Dr. Rowlands' stern eye caught sight +of their levity. He stopped short in his sermon, and for one +instant transfixed them with his indignant glance. Quiet was +instantly restored, and alarm reduced them to the most perfect +order, although the grasshopper still sat imperturbable among the +artificial flowers. Meanwhile the stout lady had discovered that +for some unknown reason she had been causing considerable +amusement, and, attributing it to intentional ridicule, looked +round, justly hurt. Eric, with real shame, observed the deep +vexation of her manner, and bitterly repented his share in the +transaction.</p> +<p>Next morning Dr. Rowlands, in full academicals, sailed into the +fourth-form room. His entrance was the signal for every boy to +rise, and after a word or two to Mr. Gordon, he motioned them to be +seated. Eric's heart sank within him.</p> +<p>"Williams, Duncan, and Llewellyn, stand out!" said the Doctor. +The boys, with downcast eyes and burning cheeks, stood before +him.</p> +<p>"I was sorry to notice," said he, "your shameful conduct in +chapel yesterday afternoon. As far as I could observe, you were +making yourselves merry in that sacred place with the personal +defects of others. The lessons you receive here must be futile +indeed, if they do not teach you the duty of reverence to God, and +courtesy to man. It gives me special pain, Williams, to have +observed that you, too, a boy high in your remove, were guilty of +this most culpable levity. You will all come to me at twelve +o'clock in the library."</p> +<p>At twelve o'clock they each received a flogging. The pain +inflicted was not great, and Duncan and Llewellyn, who had got into +similar trouble before, cared very little for it, and went out +laughing to tell the number of swishes they had received, to a +little crowd of boys who were lingering outside the library door. +But not so Eric. It was his <i>first</i> flogging, and he felt it +deeply. To his proud spirit the disgrace was intolerable. At that +moment he hated Dr. Rowlands, he hated Mr. Gordon, he hated his +schoolfellows, he hated everybody. He had been flogged; the thought +haunted him; he, Eric Williams, had been forced to receive this +most degrading corporal punishment. He pushed fiercely through the +knot of boys, and strode as quick as he could along the playground, +angry and impenitent.</p> +<p>At the gate Russell met him. Eric felt the meeting inopportune; +he was ashamed to meet his friend, ashamed to speak to him, envious +of him, and jealous of his better reputation. He wanted to pass him +by without notice, but Russell would not suffer this. He came up to +him and took his arm affectionately. The slightest allusion to his +late disgrace would have made Eric flame out into passion; but +Russell was too kind to allude to it then. He talked as if nothing +had happened, and tried to turn his friend's thoughts to more +pleasant subjects. Eric appreciated his kindness, but he was still +sullen and fretful, and it was not until they parted that his +better feelings won the day. But when Russell said to him "Good +bye, Eric," it was too much for him, and seizing Edwin's hand, he +wrung it hard, and tears rushed to his eyes.</p> +<p>"Dear, good Edwin! how I wish I was like you. If all my friends +were like you, I should never get into these troubles."</p> +<p>"Nay, Eric," said Russell, "you may be far better than I. You +have far batter gifts, if you will only do yourself justice."</p> +<p>They parted by Mr. Williams' door, and Russell walked home sad +and thoughtful; but Eric, barely answering his brother's greeting, +rushed up to his room, and, flinging himself on his bed, sobbed +like a child at the remembrance of his disgrace. They were not +refreshing tears; he felt something hard at his heart, and, as he +prayed neither for help nor forgiveness, it was pride and +rebellion, not penitence, that made him miserable.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<br> +<h3>HOME AFFECTIONS</h3> +<blockquote>"Keep the spell of home affection.<br> + Still alive in every heart;<br> +May its power, with mild direction,<br> + Draw our love from self apart,<br> + Till thy children<br> +Feel that thou their Father art."<br> +<br> +SCHOOL HYMN.</blockquote> +<p>"I have caught such a lot of pretty sea anemones, Eric," said +little Vernon Williams, as his brother strolled in after morning +school; "I wish you would come and look at them."</p> +<p>"O, I can't come now, Verny; I am going out to play cricket with +some fellows directly."</p> +<p>"But it won't take you a minute; do come."</p> +<p>"What a little bore you are. Where are the things?"</p> +<p>"O, never mind, Eric, if you don't want to look at them," said +Vernon, hurt at his brother's rough manner.</p> +<p>"First you ask me to look, and then say 'never mind,'" said Eric +impatiently; "here, show me them."</p> +<p>The little boy brought a large saucer, round which the crimson +sea-flowers were waving their long tentacula in the salt water.</p> +<p>"Oh, ay; very pretty indeed. But I must be off to cricket."</p> +<p>Vernon looked up at his brother sadly.</p> +<p>"You aren't so kind to me, Eric, as you used to be."</p> +<p>"What nonsense! and all because I don't admire those nasty +red-jelly things, which one may see on the shore by thousands any +day. What a little goose you are, Vernon!"</p> +<p>Vernon made no reply, but was putting away his sea-anemones with +a sigh, when in came Russell to fetch Eric to the cricket.</p> +<p>"Well, Verny," he said, "have you been getting those pretty +sea-anemones? come here and show me them. Ah, I declare you've got +one of those famous white plumosa fellows among them. What a lucky +little chap you are!"</p> +<p>Vernon was delighted.</p> +<p>"Mind you take care of them," said Russell. "Where did you find +them?"</p> +<p>"I have been down the shore getting them."</p> +<p>"And have you had a pleasant morning?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Russell, thank you. Only it is rather dull being always by +myself, and Eric never comes with me now."</p> +<p>"Naughty Eric," said Russell, playfully. "Never mind, Verny; you +and I will cut him, and go by ourselves."</p> +<p>Eric had stood by during the conversation, and the contrast of +Russel's unselfish kindness with his own harsh want of sympathy, +struck him. He threw his arms round his brother's neck, and said, +"We will both go with you, Verny, next half holiday."</p> +<p>"O, thank you, Eric," said his brother; and the two schoolboys +ran out. But when the next half holiday came, warm and bright, with +the promise of a good match that afternoon, Eric repented his +promise, and left Russell to amuse his little brother, while he +went off, as usual, to the playground.</p> +<p>There was one silent witness of scenes like these, who laid them +up deeply in her heart. Mrs. Williams was not unobservant of the +gradual but steady falling off in Eric's character, and the first +thing she noticed was the blunting of his home affections. When +they first came to Roslyn, the boy used constantly to join his +father and mother in their walks; but now he went seldom or never; +and even if he did go, he seemed ashamed, while with them, to meet +any of his schoolfellows. The spirit of false independence was +awake and growing in her darling son. The bright afternoons they +had spent together on the sunny shore, or seeking for sea-flowers +among the lonely rocks of the neighboring headlands,--the walks at +evening and sunset among the hills, and the sweet counsel they had +together, when the boy's character opened like a flower in the +light and warmth of his mother's love,--the long twilights when he +would sit on a stool with his young head resting on her knees, and +her loving hand among his fair hair,--all these things were +becoming to Mrs. Williams memories, and nothing more.</p> +<p>It was the trial of her life, and very sad to bear; the more so +because they were soon to be parted, certainly for years, perhaps +for ever. The time was drawing nearer and nearer; it was now June, +and Mr. Williams' term of furlough ended in two months. The +holidays at Roslyn were the months of July and August, and towards +their close Mr. and Mrs. Williams intended to leave Vernon at +Fairholm, and start for India--sending back Eric by himself as a +boarder in Dr. Rowlands' house.</p> +<p>After morning school, on fine days, the boys used to run +straight down to the shore and bathe. A bright and joyous scene it +was. They stripped off their clothes on the shingle that adjoined +the beach, and then running along the sands, would swim out far +into the bay till their heads looked like small dots glancing in +the sunshine. This year Eric had learned to swim, and he enjoyed +the bathing more than any other pleasure.</p> +<p>One day after they had dressed, Russell and he began to amuse +themselves on the sea-shore. The little translucent pools left on +the sands by the ebbing tide always swarm with life, and the two +boys found great fun in hunting audacious little crabs, or catching +the shrimps that shuffled about in the shallow water. At last Eric +picked up a piece of wood which he found lying on the beach, and +said, "What do you say to coming crabfishing, Edwin? this bit of +stick will do capitally to thrust between the rocks in the holes +where they lie?"</p> +<p>Russell agreed, and they started to the rocks of the Ness to +seek a likely place for their purpose. The Ness was a mile off, but +in the excitement of their pleasure they were oblivious of +time.</p> +<p>The Williams', for the boys' convenience, usually dined at one, +but on this day they waited half an hour for Eric. Since, however, +he didn't appear, they dined without him, supposing that he was +accidentally detained, and expecting him to come in every minute. +But two o'clock came, and no Eric; half-past two, and no Eric; +three, but still no Eric. Mrs. Williams became seriously alarmed, +and even her husband grew uneasy.</p> +<p>Vernon was watching for his brother at the window, and seeing +Duncan pass by, ran down to ask him, "If he knew where Eric +was?"</p> +<p>"No," said Duncan; "last time I saw him was on the shore. We +bathed together, and I remember his clothes were lying by mine when +I dressed. But I hav'n't seen him since. If you like we'll go and +look for him. I daresay he's on the beach somewhere."</p> +<p>But they found no traces of him there; and when they returned +with this intelligence, his mother got so agitated that it required +all her husband's firm gentleness to support her sinking spirits. +There was enough to cause anxiety, for Vernon repeatedly ran out to +ask the boys who were passing if they had seen his brother, and the +answer always was, that they had left him bathing in the sea.</p> +<p>Meanwhile our young friends, having caught several crabs, +suddenly noticed by the sun that it was getting late.</p> +<p>"Good gracious, Edwin," said Eric, pulling out his watch, "it's +half-past three; what have we been thinking of? How frightened +they'll be at home;" and running back as fast as they could, they +reached the house at five o'clock, and rushed into the room.</p> +<p>"Eric, Eric," said Mrs. Williams faintly, "where have you been? +has anything happened to you, my child?"</p> +<p>"No, mother, nothing. I've only been crabfishing with Russell, +and we forgot the time."</p> +<p>"Thoughtless boy," said his father, "your mother has been in an +agony about you."</p> +<p>Eric saw her pale face and tearful eyes, and flung himself in +her arms, and mother and son wept in a long embrace. "Only two +months," whispered Mrs. Williams, "and we shall leave you, dear +boy, perhaps forever. O do not forget your love for us in the midst +of new companions."</p> +<p>The end of term arrived; this time Eric came out eighth only +instead of first, and, therefore, on the prize day, was obliged to +sit among the crowd of undistinguished boys. He saw that his +parents were disappointed, and his own ambition was grievously +mortified. But he had full confidence in his own powers, and made +the strongest resolutions to work hard the next half-year, when he +had got out of "that Gordon's" clutches.</p> +<p>The Williams' spent the holidays at Fairholm, and now, indeed, +in the prospect of losing them, Eric's feelings to his parents came +out in all their strength. Most happily the days glided by, and the +father and mother used them wisely. All their gentle influence, all +their deep affection, were employed in leaving on the boy's heart +lasting impressions of godliness and truth. He learnt to feel that +their love would encircle him for ever with its heavenly +tenderness, and their pure prayers rise for him night and day to +the throne of God.</p> +<p>The day of parting came, and most bitter and heartrending it +was. In the wildness of their passionate sorrow, Eric and Vernon +seemed to hear the sound of everlasting farewells. It is God's +mercy that ordains how seldom young hearts have to endure such +misery.</p> +<p>At length it was over. The last sound of wheels had died away; +and during those hours the hearts of parents and children felt the +bitterness of death. Mrs. Trevor and Fanny, themselves filled with +grief, still used all their unselfish endeavors to comfort their +dear boys. Vernon, weary of crying, soon sank to sleep; but not so +Eric. He sat on a low stool, his face buried in his hands, breaking +the stillness every now and then with his convulsive sobs.</p> +<p>"O Aunty," he cried, "do you think I shall ever see them again? +I have been so wicked, and so little grateful for all their love. +O, I wish I had thought at Roslyn how soon I was to lose them."</p> +<p>"Yes, dearest," said Mrs. Trevor, "I have no doubt we shall all +meet again soon. Your father is only going for five years, you +know, and that will not seem very long. And then they will be +writing continually to us, and we to them. Think, Eric, how +gladdened their hearts will be to hear that you and Vernon are good +boys, and getting on well."</p> +<p>"O, I <i>will</i> be a better boy, I <i>will</i> indeed," said +Eric; "I mean to do great things, and they shall have nothing but +good reports of me."</p> +<p>"God helping you, dear," said his aunt, pushing back his hair +from his forehead, and kissing it softly; "without his help, Eric, +we are all weak indeed."</p> +<p>She sighed. But how far deeper her sigh would have been had she +known the future. Merciful is the darkness that shrouds it from +human eyes!</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<br> +<h3>ERIC A BOARDER</h3> +<blockquote>"We were, fair queen,<br> +Two lads that thought there was no more behind,<br> +But such a day to-morrow as to-day,<br> +And to be boy eternal."--WINTER'S TALE, i. 2.</blockquote> +<p>The holidays were over. Vernon was to have a tutor at Fairholm, +and Eric was to return alone, and be received into Dr. Rowlands' +house.</p> +<p>As he went on board the steam-packet, he saw numbers of the +well-known faces on deck, and merry voices greeted him.</p> +<p>"Hallo, Williams! here you are at last," said Duncan, seizing +his hand. "How have you enjoyed the holidays? It's so jolly to see +you again."</p> +<p>"So you're coming as a boarder," said Montagu, "and to our noble +house, too. Mind you stick up for it, old fellow. Come along, and +let's watch whether the boats are bringing any more fellows; we +shall be starting in a few minutes."</p> +<p>"Ha! there's Russell," said Eric, springing to the gangway, and +warmly shaking his friend's hand as he came on board.</p> +<p>"Have your father and mother gone, Eric?" said Russell, after a +few minutes' talk.</p> +<p>"Yes," said Eric, turning away his head, and hastily brushing +his eyes. "They are on their way back to India."</p> +<p>"I'm so sorry," said Russell; "I don't think anyone has ever +been so kind to me as they were."</p> +<p>"And they loved you, Edwin, dearly, and told me, almost the last +thing, that they hoped we should always be friends. Stop! they gave +me something for you." Eric opened his carpet-bag, and took out a +little box carefully wrapped up, which he gave to Russell. It +contained a pretty silver watch, and inside the case was +engraved--"Edwin Russell, from the mother of his friend Eric."</p> +<p>The boy's eyes glistened with joyful surprise. "How good they +are," he said; "I shall write and thank Mrs. Williams directly we +get to Roslyn."</p> +<p>They had a fine bright voyage, and arrived that night. Eric, as +a new comer, was ushered at once into Dr. Rowlands' drawing-room, +where the head master was sitting with his wife and children. His +greeting was dignified, but not unkindly; and, on saying "good +night," he gave Eric a few plain words of affectionate advice.</p> +<p>At that moment Eric hardly cared for advice. He was full of life +and spirits, brave, bright, impetuous, tingling with hope, in the +flush and flower of boyhood. He bounded down the stairs, and in +another minute entered the large room where all Dr. Rowlands' +boarders assembled, and where most of them lived, except the few +privileged sixth form, and other boys who had "studies." A cheer +greeted his entrance into the room. By this time most of the +Rowlandites knew him, and were proud to have him among their +number. They knew that he was clever enough to get them credit in +the school, and, what was better still, that he would be a capital +accession of strength to the cricket and football. Except Barker, +there was not one who had not a personal liking for him, and on +this occasion even Barker was gracious.</p> +<p>The room in which Eric found himself was large and high. At one +end was a huge fire-place, and there was generally a throng of boys +round the great iron fender, where, in cold weather, a little boy +could seldom get. The large windows opened on the green playground; +and iron bars prevented any exit through them. This large room, +called "the boarders' room," was the joint habitation of Eric and +some thirty other boys; and at one side ran a range of shelves and +drawers, where they kept their books and private property. There +the younger Rowlandites breakfasted, dined, had tea, and, for the +most part, lived. Here, too, they had to get through all such work +as was not performed under direct supervision. How many and what +varied scenes had not that room beheld! had those dumb walls any +feeling, what worlds of life and experience they would have +acquired! If against each boy's name, as it was rudely cut on the +oak panels, could have been also cut the fate that had befallen +him, the good that he had there learnt, the evil that he had there +suffered--what <i>noble</i> histories would the records unfold of +honor and success, of baffled temptations and hard-won triumphs; +what <i>awful</i> histories of hopes blighted and habits learned, +of wasted talents and ruined lives!</p> +<p>The routine of school-life was on this wise:--At half-past seven +the boys came down to prayers, which were immediately followed by +breakfast. At nine they went into school, where they continued, +with little interruption, till twelve. At one they dined, and, +except on half-holidays, went into school again from two till five. +The lock-up bell rang at dusk; at six o'clock they had tea--which +was a repetition of breakfast, with leave to add to it whatever +else they liked--and immediately after sat down to "preparation," +which lasted from seven till nine. During this time one of the +masters was always in the room, who allowed them to read amusing +books, or employ themselves in any other quiet way they liked, as +soon as ever they had learnt their lessons for the following day. +At nine Dr. Rowlands came in and read prayers, after which the boys +were dismissed to bed.</p> +<p>The arrangement of the dormitories was peculiar. They were a +suite of rooms, exactly the same size, each opening into the other; +six on each side of a lavatory, which occupied the space between +them, so that, when all the doors were open, you could see from one +end of the whole range to the other. The only advantage of this +arrangement was, that one master walking up and down could keep all +the boys in order while they were getting into bed. About a quarter +of an hour was allowed for this process, and then the master went +along the rooms putting out the lights. A few of the "study-boys" +were allowed to sit up till ten, and their bedrooms were elsewhere. +The consequence was, that in these dormitories the boys felt +perfectly secure from any interruption. There were only two ways by +which a master could get at them; one up the great staircase, and +through the lavatory; the other by a door at the extreme end of the +range, which led into Dr. Rowlands' house, but was generally kept +locked.</p> +<p>In each dormitory slept four or five boys, distributed by their +order in the school list, so that, in all the dormitories, there +were nearly sixty; and of these a goodly number were, on Eric's +arrival, collected in the boarders' room, the rest being in their +studies, or in the classrooms which some were allowed to use in +order to prevent too great a crowd in the room below.</p> +<p>At nine o'clock the prayer-bell rang. Immediately all the +boarders took their seats for prayers, each with an open Bible +before him; and when the school servants had also come in, Dr. +Rowlands read a chapter, and offered up an extempore prayer. While +reading, he generally interspersed a few pointed remarks or graphic +explanations, and Eric learnt much in this simple way. The prayer, +though short, was always well suited to the occasion, and +calculated to carry with it the attention of the worshippers.</p> +<p>Prayers over, the boys noisily dispersed to their bed rooms, and +Eric found himself placed in a room immediately to the right of the +lavatory, occupied by Duncan, Graham, Llewellyn, and two other boys +named Bull and Attlay, all in the same form with himself They were +all tired with their voyage, and the excitement of coming back to +school, so that they did not talk much that night, and before long +Eric was fast asleep, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming that he should +have a very happy life at Roslyn school, and seeing himself win no +end of distinctions, and make no end of new friends.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<br> +<h3>"TAKING UP"</h3> +<blockquote>"We are not worst at once; the course of evil<br> +Begins so slowly, and from such slight source,<br> +An infant's hand might stop the breach with clay;<br> +But let the stream grow wider, and Philosophy--<br> +Ay, and Religion too--may strive in vain<br> +To stem the headlong current!"--ANON.</blockquote> +<p>With intense delight Eric heard it announced next morning, when +the new school-list was read, that he had got his remove into the +"Shell," as the form was called which intervened between the fourth +and the fifth. Russell, Owen, and Montagu also got their removes +with him, but his other friends were left for the present in the +form below.</p> +<p>Mr. Rose, hiss new master, was in every respect a great contrast +with Mr. Gordon. He was not so brilliant in his acquirements, nor +so vigorous in his teaching, and therefore clever boys did not +catch fire from him so much as from the fourth-form master. But he +was a far truer and deeper Christian; and, with no less scrupulous +a sense of honor, and detestation of every form of moral obliquity, +he never yielded to those storms of passionate indignation which +Mr. Gordon found it impossible to control. Disappointed in early +life, subjected to the deepest and most painful trials, Mr. Rose's +fine character had come out like gold from the flame. He now lived +in and for the boys alone, and his whole life was one long +self-devotion to their service and interests. The boys felt this, +and even the worst of them, in their worst moments, loved and +honored Mr. Rose. But he was not seeking for gratitude, which he +neither expected nor required; he asked no affection in return for +his self-denials; he worked with a pure spirit of human and +self-sacrificing love, happy beyond all payment if ever he were +instrumental in saving one of his charge from evil, or turning one +wanderer from the error of his ways.</p> +<p>He was an unmarried man, and therefore took no boarders himself, +but lived in the school-buildings, and had the care of the boys in +Dr. Rowlands' house.</p> +<p>Such was the master under whom Eric was now placed, and the boy +was sadly afraid that an evil report would have reached his ears, +and given him already an unfavorable impression. But he was soon +happily undeceived. Mr. Rose at once addressed him with much +kindness, and he felt that, however bad he had been before, he +would now have an opportunity to turn over a new leaf, and begin +again a career of hope. He worked admirably at first, and even +beat, for the first week or two, his old competitors, Owen and +Russell.</p> +<p>From the beginning, Mr. Rose took a deep interest in him. Few +could look at the boy's bright blue eyes and noble face without +doing so, and the more when they knew that his father and mother +were thousands of miles away, leaving him alone in the midst of so +many dangers. Often the master asked him, and Russell, and Owen, +and Montagu, to supper with him in the library, which gave them the +privilege of sitting up later than usual, and enjoying a more quiet +and pleasant evening than was possible in the noisy rooms. Boys and +master were soon quite at home with each other, and in this way Mr. +Rose had an opportunity of instilling many a useful warning without +the formality of regular discipline or stereotyped instruction.</p> +<p>Eric found the life of the "boarders' room" far rougher than he +had expected. Work was out of the question there, except during the +hours of preparation, and the long dark winter evenings were often +dull enough. Sometimes, indeed, they would all join in some regular +indoor boys' game like "baste the bear," or "high-cockolorum;" or +they would have amusing "ghost-hunts," as they called them, after +some dressed-up boy among the dark corridors and staircases. This +was good enough fun, but at other times they got tired of games, +and could not get them up, and then numbers of boys felt the idle +time hang heavy on their hands. When this was the case, some of the +worse sort, as might have been expected, would fill up their +leisure with bullying or mischief.</p> +<p>For some time they had a form of diversion which disgusted and +annoyed Eric exceedingly. On each of the long iron-bound deal +tables were placed two or three tallow candles in tin candlesticks, +and this was the only light the boys had. Of course, these candles +often, wanted snuffing, and as snuffers were sure to be thrown +about and broken as soon as they were brought into the room, the +only resource was to snuff them with the fingers, at which all the +boys became great adepts from necessity. One evening Barker, having +snuffed the candle, suddenly and slyly put the smouldering wick +unnoticed on the head of a little quiet inoffensive fellow named +Wright, who happened to be sitting next to him. It went on +smouldering for some time without Wright's perceiving it, and at +last Barker, highly delighted, exclaimed--</p> +<p>"I see a chimney," and laughed.</p> +<p>Four or five boys looked up, and very soon every one in the room +had noticed the trick except little Wright himself, who +unconsciously wrote on at the letter he was sending home.</p> +<p>Eric did not like this; but not wishing to come across Barker +again, said nothing, and affected not to have observed. But Russell +said quietly, "There's something on your head, Wright," and the +little boy putting up his hand, hastily brushed off the horrid +wick.</p> +<p>"What a shame!" he said, as it fell on his letter, and made a +smudge.</p> +<p>"Who told you to interfere?" said Barker, turning fiercely to +Russell. Russell, as usual, took not the slightest notice of him, +and Barker, after a little more bluster, repeated the trick on +another boy. This time Russell thought that every one might be on +the look out for himself, and so went on with his work. But when +Barker again chanted maliciously--</p> +<p>"I see a chimney," every boy who happened to be reading or +writing, uneasily felt to discover this time he was himself the +victim or no; and so things continued for half an hour.</p> +<p>Ridiculous and disgusting as this folly was, it became, when +constantly repeated, very annoying. A boy could not sit down to any +quiet work without constant danger of having some one creep up +behind him and put the offensive fragment of smoking snuff on his +head; and neither Barker nor any of his little gang of imitators +seemed disposed to give up their low mischief.</p> +<p>One night, when the usual exclamation was made, Eric felt sure, +from seeing several boys looking at him, that this time some one +had been treating him in the same way. He indignantly shook his +head, and sure enough the bit of wick dropped off. Eric was +furious, and springing up, he shouted--</p> +<p>"By Jove! I <i>won't</i> stand this any longer."</p> +<p>"You'll have to sit it then," said Barker.</p> +<p>"O, it was <i>you</i> who did it, was it? Then take that;" and, +seizing one of the tin candlesticks, Eric hurled it at Barker's +head. Barker dodged, but the edge of it cut open his eyebrow as it +whizzed by, and the blood flowed fast.</p> +<p>"I'll kill you for that," said Barker, leaping at Eric, and +seizing him by the hair.</p> +<p>"You'll get killed yourself then, you brute," said Upton, +Russell's cousin, a fifth-form boy, who had just come into the +room--and he boxed his ears as a premonitory admonition. "But, I +say, young un," continued he to Eric, "this kind of thing won't do, +you snow. You'll get into rows if you shy candlesticks at fellows' +heads at that rate."</p> +<p>"He has been making the room intolerable for the last month by +his filthy tricks," said Eric hotly; "some one must stop him, and I +will somehow, if no one else does."</p> +<p>"It wasn't I who put the thing on your head, you passionate +young fool," growled Barker.</p> +<p>"Who was it then? How was I to know? You began it."</p> +<p>"You shut up, Barker," said Upton; "I've heard of your ways +before, and when I catch you at your tricks, I'll teach you a +lesson. Come up to my study, Williams, if you like."</p> +<p>Upton was a fine sturdy fellow of eighteen, immensely popular in +the school for his prowess and good looks. He hated bullying, and +often interfered to protect little boys, who accordingly idolised +him, and did anything he told them very willingly. He meant to do +no harm, but he did great harm. He was full of misdirected +impulses, and had a great notion of being manly, which he thought +consisted in a fearless disregard of all school rules, and the +performance of the wildest tricks. For this reason he was never +very intimate with his cousin Russell, whom he liked very much, but +who was too scrupulous and independent to please him. Eric, on the +other hand, was just the boy to take his fancy, and to admire him +in return; his life, strength, and pluck, made him a ready pupil in +all schemes of mischief, and Upton, who had often noticed him, +would have been the first to shudder had he known how far his +example went to undermine all Eric's lingering good resolutions, +and ruin for ever the boy of whom he was so fond.</p> +<p>From this time Eric was much in Upton's study, and constantly by +his side in the playground. In spite of their disparity in age and +position in the school, they became sworn friends, though, their +friendship was broken every now and then by little quarrels, which +united them all the more closely after they had not spoken to each +other perhaps for a week.</p> +<p>"Your cousin Upton has 'taken up' Williams," said Montagu to +Russell one afternoon, as he saw the two strolling together on the +beach, with Eric's arm in Upton's.</p> +<p>"Yes, I am sorry for it."</p> +<p>"So am I. We shan't see so much of him now."</p> +<p>"O, that's not my only reason," answered Russell, who had a rare +habit of always going straight to the point.</p> +<p>"You mean you don't like the 'taking-up' system."</p> +<p>"No, Montagu; I used once to have fine theories about it. I used +to fancy that a big fellow would do no end of good to one lower in +the school, and that the two would stand to each other in the +relation of knight to squire. You know what the young knights were +taught, Monty--to keep their bodies under, and bring them into +subjection; to love God, and speak the truth always. That sounds +very grand and noble to me. But when a big fellow takes up a little +one <i>you</i> know pretty well that <i>those</i> are not the kind +of lessons he teaches."</p> +<p>"No, Russell; you're quite right. It's bad for a fellow in every +way. First of all, it keeps him in an unnatural sort of dependence; +then ten to one it makes him conceited, and prevents his character +from really coming out well. And besides, the young chap generally +gets paid out in kicks and abuse from the jealousy and contempt of +the rest; and if his protector happens to leave, or anything of +that kind, woe betide him!"</p> +<p>"No fear for Eric in that line, though," said Russell; "he can +hold his own pretty well against any one. And after all, he is a +most jolly fellow. I don't think even Upton will spoil him; it's +chiefly the soft self-indulgent fellows, who are all straw and no +iron, who get spoilt by being 'taken up.'"</p> +<p>Russell was partly right. Eric learnt a great deal of harm from +Upton, and the misapplied hero-worship led to bad results. But he +was too manly a little fellow, and had too much self-respect, to +sink into the effeminate condition which usually grows on the young +delectables who have the misfortune to be "taken up."</p> +<p>Nor did he in the least drop his old friends, except Owen. A +coolness grew up between the latter and Eric, not unmingled with a +little mutual contempt. Eric sneered at Owen as a fellow who did +nothing but grind all day long, and had no geniality in him; while +Owen pitied the love of popularity which so often led Eric into +delinquencies, which he himself despised. Owen had, indeed, but few +friends in the school; the only boy who knew him well enough to +respect and like him thoroughly was Russell, who found in him the +only one who took the same high, ground with himself. But Russell +loved the good in every one, and was loved by all in return, and +Eric he loved most of all, while he often mourned over his +increasing failures.</p> +<p>One day as the two were walking together in the green +playground, Mr. Gordon passed by; and as the boys touched their +caps, he nodded and smiled pleasantly at Russell, but hardly +noticed, and did not return Eric's salute. He had begun to dislike +the latter more and more, and had given him up altogether as one of +the reprobates.</p> +<p>"What a surly devil that is," said Eric, when he had passed; +"did you see how he purposely cut me?"</p> +<p>"A surly ...? Oh Eric, that's the first time I ever heard you +swear."</p> +<p>Eric blushed. He hadn't meant the word to slip out in Russell's +hearing, though similar expressions were common enough in his talk +with other boys. But he didn't like to be reproved, even by +Russell, and in the ready spirit of self-defence, he answered--</p> +<p>"Pooh, Edwin, you don't call that swearing, do you? You're so +strict, so religious, you know. I love you for it, but then, there +are none like you. Nobody thinks anything of swearing here."</p> +<p>Russell was silent.</p> +<p>"Besides, what can be the harm of it? it means nothing. I was +thinking the other night, and I concluded that you and Owen are the +only two fellows here who don't swear."</p> +<p>Russell still said nothing.</p> +<p>"And, after all, I didn't swear; I only called that fellow a +surly devil."</p> +<p>"O, hush! Eric, hush!" said Russell sadly. "You wouldn't have +said so half-a-year ago."</p> +<p>Eric knew what he meant. The image of his father and mother rose +before him, as they sate far away in their lonely Indian home, +thinking of him, praying for him, centring all their hopes in him. +In him!--and he knew how many things he was daily doing and saying, +which would cut them to the heart. He knew that all his moral +consciousness was fast vanishing, and leaving him a bad and +reckless boy.</p> +<p>In a moment, all this passed through his mind. He remembered how +shocked he had been at swearing at first; and even when it became +too familiar to shock him, how he determined never to fall into the +habit himself. Then he remembered how gradually it had become quite +a graceful sound in his ears; a sound of entire freedom and +independence of moral restraint; an open casting off, as it were, +of all authority, so that he had begun to admire it, particularly +in Duncan, and above all, in his new hero, Upton; and he +recollected how, at last, an oath had one day slipped out suddenly +in his own words, and how strange it sounded to him, and how Upton +smiled to hear it, though conscience had reproached him bitterly; +but now that he had done it once, it became less dreadful, and +gradually grew common enough, till even conscience hardly reminded +him that he was doing wrong.</p> +<p>He thought of all this, and hung his head. Pride struggled with +him for a moment, but at length he answered, "O Edwin, I fear I am +getting utterly bad; I wish I were more like you," he added, in a +low sad tone.</p> +<p>"Dear Eric, I have no right to say it, full of faults as I am +myself; but you will be so much happier, if you try not to yield to +all the bad things round us. Remember, I know more of school than +you."</p> +<p>The two boys strolled on silently. That night Eric knelt at his +bedside, and prayed as he had not done for many a long day.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<br> +<h3>"DEAD FLIES," OR "YE SHALL BE AS GODS"</h3> +<blockquote>"In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark +night." PROV. vii. 9.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>At Roslyn, even in summer, the hour for going to bed was +half-past nine. It was hardly likely that so many boys, overflowing +with turbulent life, should lie down quietly, and get to sleep. +They never dreamt of doing so. Very soon after the masters were +gone, the sconces were often relighted, sometimes in separate +dormitories, sometimes in all of them, and the boys amused +themselves by reading novels or making a row. They would play +various games about the bedrooms, vaulting or jumping over the +beds, running races in sheets, getting through the windows upon the +roofs, to frighten the study-boys with sham ghosts, or playing the +thousand other pranks which suggested themselves to the fertile +imagination of fifteen. But the favorite amusement was a bolstering +match. One room would challenge another, and, stripping the covers +off their bolsters, would meet in mortal fray. A bolster well +wielded, especially when dexterously applied to the legs, is a very +efficient instrument to bring a boy to the ground; but it doesn't +hurt very much, even when the blows fall on the head. Hence these +matches were excellent trials of strength and temper, and were +generally accompanied with shouts of laughter, never ending until +one side was driven back to its own room. Many a long and tough +struggle had Eric enjoyed, and his prowess was so universally +acknowledged, that his dormitory, No. 7, was a match for any other, +and far stronger in this warfare than most of the rest. At +bolstering, Duncan was a perfect champion; his strength and +activity were marvellous, and his mirth uproarious. Eric and Graham +backed him up brilliantly; while Llewellyn and Attlay, with sturdy +vigor, supported the skirmishers. Bull, the sixth boy in No. 7, was +the only <i>fainéant</i> among them, though he did +occasionally help to keep off the smaller fry.</p> +<p>Happy would it have been for all of them if Bull had never been +placed in No. 7; happier still if he had never come to Roslyn +school. Backward in work, overflowing with vanity at his supposed +good looks, of mean disposition and feeble intellect, he was the +very worst specimen of a boy that Eric had ever seen. Not even +Barker so deeply excited Eric's repulsion and contempt. And yet, +since the affair of Upton, Barker and Eric were declared enemies, +and, much to the satisfaction of the latter, never spoke to each +other; but with Bull--much as he inwardly loathed him--he was +professedly and apparently on good terms. His silly love of +universal popularity made him accept and tolerate the society even +of this worthless boy.</p> +<p>Any two boys talking to each other about Bull would probably +profess to like him "well enough," but if they were honest, they +would generally end by allowing their contempt.</p> +<p>"We've got a nice set in No. 7, haven't we?" said Duncan to Eric +one day.</p> +<p>"Capital. Old Llewellyn's a stunner, and I like Attlay and +Graham."</p> +<p>"Don't you like Bull then?"</p> +<p>"O yes; pretty well."</p> +<p>The two boys looked each other in the face, then, like the +confidential augurs, burst out laughing.</p> +<p>"You know you detest him," said Duncan.</p> +<p>"No, I don't. He never did me any harm that I know of."</p> +<p>"Him!--well, <i>I</i> detest him."</p> +<p>"Well!" answered Eric, "on coming to think of it, so do I. And +yet he is popular enough in the school. I wonder how that is."</p> +<p>"He's not <i>really</i> popular. I've often noticed that fellows +pretty generally despise him, yet somehow don't like to say +so."</p> +<p>"Why do you dislike him, Duncan?"</p> +<p>"I don't know. Why do you?"</p> +<p>"I don't know either."</p> +<p>Neither Eric nor Duncan meant this answer to be false, and yet +if they had taken the trouble to consider, they would have found +out in their secret souls the reasons of their dislike.</p> +<p>Bull had been to school before, and of this school he often +bragged as the acmé of desirability and wickedness. He was +always telling boys what they did at "his old school," and he quite +inflamed the minds of such as fell under his influence by +marvellous tales of the wild and wilful things which he and his +former school-fellows had done. Many and many a scheme of sin and +mischief, at Roslyn was suggested, planned, and carried out on the +model of Bull's reminiscences of his previous life.</p> +<p>He had tasted more largely of the tree of the knowledge of evil +than any other boy, and strange to say, this was the secret why the +general odium was never expressed. He claimed his guilty experience +so often as a ground of superiority, that at last the claim was +silently allowed. He spoke from the platform of more advanced +iniquity, and the others listened first curiously, then eagerly to +his words.</p> +<p>"Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Such was the +temptation which assailed the other boys in dormitory No. 7; and +Eric among the number. Bull was the tempter. Secretly, gradually, +he dropped into their too willing ears the poison of his polluting +acquirements.</p> +<p>In brief, Bull was cursed with a degraded and corrupting +mind.</p> +<p>I hurry over a part of my subject inconceivably painful; I hurry +over it, but if I am to perform my self-imposed duty of giving a +true picture of what school life <i>sometimes</i> is, I must not +pass it by altogether.</p> +<p>The first time that Eric heard indecent words in dormitory No. +7, he was shocked beyond bound or measure. Dark though it was, he +felt himself blushing scarlet to the roots of his hair, and then +growing pale again, while a hot dew was left upon his forehead. +Bull was the speaker; but this time there was a silence, and the +subject instantly dropped. The others felt that "a new boy" was in +the room; they did not know how he would take it; they were +unconsciously abashed.</p> +<p>Besides, though they had themselves joined in such conversation +before, they did not love it, and on the contrary, felt ashamed of +yielding to it.</p> +<p>Now, Eric, now or never! Life and death, ruin and salvation, +corruption and purity, are perhaps in the balance together, and the +scale of your destiny may hang on a single word of yours. Speak +out, boy! Tell these fellows that unseemly words wound your +conscience; tell them that they are ruinous, sinful, damnable; +speak out and save yourself and the rest. Virtue is strong and +beautiful, Eric, and vice is downcast in her awful presence. Lose +your purity of heart, Eric, and you have lost a jewel which the +whole world, if it were "one entire and perfect chrysolite," cannot +replace.</p> +<p>Good spirits guard that young boy, and give him grace in this +his hour of trial! Open his eyes that he may see the fiery horses +and the fiery chariots of the angels who would defend him, and the +dark array of spiritual foes who throng around his bed. Point a +pitying finger to the yawning abyss of shame, ruin, and despair +that even now perhaps is being cleft under his feet. Show him the +garlands of the present and the past, withering at the touch of the +Erinnys in the future. In pity, in pity show him the canker which +he is introducing into the sap of the tree of life, which shall +cause its root to be hereafter as bitterness, and its blossom to go +up as dust.</p> +<p>But the sense of sin was on Eric's mind. How <i>could</i> he +speak? was not his own language sometimes profane? How--how could +he profess to reprove another boy on the ground of morality, when +he himself said did things less ruinous perhaps, but equally +forbidden?</p> +<p>For half an hour, in an agony of struggle with himself, Eric lay +silent. Since Bull's last words nobody had spoken. They were going +to sleep. It was too late to speak now, Eric thought. The moment +passed by for ever; Eric had listened without objection to foul +words, and the irreparable harm was done.</p> +<p>How easy it would have been to speak! With the temptation, God +had provided also a way to escape. Next time it came, it was far +harder to resist, and it soon became, to men, impossible.</p> +<p>Ah Eric, Eric! how little we know the moments which decide the +destinies of life. We live on as usual. The day is a common day, +the hour a common hour. We never thought twice about the change of +intention, which by one of the accidents--(accidents!)--of life +determined for good or for evil, for happiness or misery, the color +of our remaining years. The stroke of the pen was done in a moment +which led unconsciously to our ruin; the word was uttered quite +heedlessly, on which turned for ever the decision of our weal or +woe.</p> +<p>Eric lay silent. The darkness was not broken by the flashing of +an angel's wing, the stillness was not syllabled by the sound of an +angel's voice; but to his dying day Eric never forgot the moments +which passed, until, weary and self-reproachful, he fell +asleep.</p> +<p>Next morning he awoke, restless and feverish. He at once +remembered what had passed. Bull's words haunted him; he could not +forget them; they burnt within him like the flame of a moral fever. +He was moody and petulant, and for a time could hardly conceal his +aversion to Bull. Ah Eric! moodiness and petulance cannot save you, +but prayerfulness would; one word, Eric, at the throne of +grace--one prayer before you go down among the boys, that God in +his mercy would wash away, in the blood of his dear Son, your +crimson stains, and keep your conscience and memory clean.</p> +<p>The boy knelt down for a few minutes, and repeated to himself a +few formal words. Had he stayed longer on his knees, he might have +given way to a burst of penitence and supplication--but he heard +Bull's footstep, and getting up, he ran down stairs to breakfast; +so Eric did not pray.</p> +<p>Conversations did not generally drop so suddenly in dormitory +No. 7. On the contrary, they generally flashed along in the +liveliest way, till some one said "Good night;" and then the boys +turned off to sleep. Eric knew this, and instantly conjectured that +it was only a sort of respect for him, and ignorance of the manner +in which he would consider it, that prevented Duncan and the rest +from taking any further notice of Bull's remark. It was therefore +no good disburdening his mind to any of them; but he determined to +speak about the matter to Russell in their next walk.</p> +<p>They usually walked together on Sunday. Dr. Rowlands had +discontinued the odious and ridiculous custom of the younger boys +taking their exercise under a master's inspection. Boys are not +generally fond of constitutionals, so that on the half-holidays +they almost entirely confined their open-air exercise to the +regular games, and many of them hardly left the play-ground +boundaries once a week. But on Sundays they often went walks, each +with his favorite friend or companion. When Eric first came as a +boarder, he invariably went with Russell on Sunday, and many a +pleasant stroll they had taken together, sometimes accompanied by +Duncan, Montagu, or Owen. The latter, however, had dropped even +this intercourse with Eric, who for the last few weeks had more +often gone with his new friend Upton.</p> +<p>"Come a walk, boy," said Upton, as they left the +dining-room.</p> +<p>"O excuse me to-day, Upton," said Eric, "I'm going with your +cousin."</p> +<p>"Oh <i>very</i> well," said Upton, in high dudgeon, and, hoping +to make Eric jealous, he went a walk with Graham, whom he had +"taken up" before he knew Williams.</p> +<p>Russell was rather surprised when Eric came to him and said, +"Come a stroll to Fort Island, Edwin--will you?"</p> +<p>"O yes," said Russell cheerfully; "why, we haven't seen each +other for some time lately! I was beginning to fancy that you meant +to drop me, Eric."</p> +<p>He spoke with a smile, and in a rallying tone, but Eric hung his +head, for the charge was true. Proud of his popularity among all +the school, and especially at his friendship with so leading a +fellow as Upton, Eric had <i>not</i> seen much of his friend since +their last conversation about swearing. Indeed, conscious of +failure, he felt sometimes uneasy in Russell's company.</p> +<p>He faltered, and answered humbly, "I hope you will never drop +<i>me</i>, Edwin, however bad I get? But I particularly want to +speak to you to-day."</p> +<p>In an instant Russell had twined his arm in Eric's, as they +turned towards Fort Island; and Eric, with an effort, was just +going to begin, when they heard Montagu's voice calling after +them--</p> +<p>"I say, you fellows, where are you off to! may I come with +you?"</p> +<p>"O yes, Monty, do," said Russell, "It will be quite like old +times; now that my cousin Horace has got hold of Eric, we have to +sing 'When shall we three meet again?'"</p> +<p>Russell only spoke in fun; but, unintentionally, his words +jarred in Eric's heart. He was silent, and answered in +monosyllables, so the walk was provokingly dull. At last they +reached Fort Island, and sat down by the ruined chapel looking on +the sea.</p> +<p>"Why what's the row with you, old boy," said Montagu, playfully +shaking Eric by the shoulder, "you're as silent as Zimmerman on +Solitude, and as doleful as Harvey on the Tombs. I expect you've +been going through a select course of Blair's Grave, Young's Night +Thoughts, and Drelincourt on Death."</p> +<p>To his surprise Eric's head was still bent, and, at last, he +heard a deep suppressed sigh.</p> +<p>"My dear child, what is the matter with you?" said Russell, +affectionately taking his hand, "surely you're not offended at my +nonsense?"</p> +<p>Eric had not liked to speak while Montagu was by, but now he +gulped down his rising emotion, and briefly told them of Bull's +vile words the night before. They listened in silence.</p> +<p>"I knew it must come, Eric," said Russell at last, "and I am so +sorry you didn't speak at the time."</p> +<p>"Do the fellows ever talk in that way in either of your +dormitories?" asked Eric.</p> +<p>"No," said Russell.</p> +<p>"Very little," said Montagu.</p> +<p>A pause followed, during which all three plucked the grass and +looked away.</p> +<p>"Let me tell you," said Russell solemnly; "my father (he is dead +now you know, Eric), when I was sent to school, warned me of this +kind of thing. I had been brought up in utter ignorance of such +coarse knowledge as is forced upon one here, and with my +reminiscences of home, I could not bear even that much of it which +was impossible to avoid. But the very first time such talk was +begun in my dormitory I spoke out. What I said I don't know, but I +felt as if I was trampling on a slimy poisonous adder, and, at any +rate, I showed such pain and distress that the fellows dropped it +at the time. Since then I have absolutely refused to stay in the +room if ever such talk is begun. So it never is now, and I do think +the fellows are very glad of it themselves."</p> +<p>"Well," said Montagu, "I don't profess to look on it from the +religious ground, you know, but I thought it blackguardly, and in +bad taste, and said so. The fellow who began it, threatened to kick +me for a conceited little fool, but he didn't; and they hardly ever +venture on that ground now."</p> +<p>"It is more than blackguardly--it is deadly," answered Russell; +"my father said it was the most fatal curse which could ever become +rife in a public school."</p> +<p>"Why do masters never give us any help or advice on these +matters?" asked Eric thoughtfully.</p> +<p>"In sermons they do. Don't you remember Rowlands' sermon not two +weeks ago on Kibroth-Hattaavah? But I for one think them quite +right not to speak to us privately on such subjects, unless we +invite confidence. Besides, they cannot know that any boys talk in +this way. After all, it is only a very few of the worst who ever +do."</p> +<p>They got up and walked home, but from day to day Eric put off +performing the duty which Russell had advised, viz.--a private +request to Bull to abstain from his offensive communications, and +an endeavor to enlist Duncan into his wishes.</p> +<p>One evening they were telling each other stories in No. 7. +Bull's turn came, and in his story the vile element again appeared. +For a while Eric said nothing, but as the strain grew worse, he +made a faint remonstrance.</p> +<p>"Shut up there, Williams," said Attlay, "and don't spoil the +story."</p> +<p>"Very well. It's your own fault, and I shall shut my ears."</p> +<p>He did for a time, but a general laugh awoke him. He pretended +to be asleep, but he listened. Iniquity of this kind was utterly +new to him; his curiosity was awakened; he no longer feigned +indifference, and the poison flowed deep into his veins. Before +that evening was over, Eric Williams was "a god, knowing good from +evil."</p> +<p>O young boys, if your eyes ever read these pages, pause and +beware. The knowledge of evil is ruin, and the continuance in it +hell. That little matter--that beginning of evil,--it will be like +the snowflake detached by the breath of air from the mountain-top, +which, as it rushes down, gains size, and strength, and impetus, +till it has swollen to the mighty and irresistible avalanche that +overwhelms garden, and field, and village, in a chaos of +undistinguishable death.</p> +<p>Kibroth-Hattaavah! Many and many a young Englishman has perished +there! Many and many a happy English boy, the jewel of his mother's +heart,--brave, and beautiful, and strong,--lies buried there. Very +pale their shadows rise before us--the shadows of our young +brothers who have sinned and suffered. From the sea and the sod, +from foreign graves and English churchyards, they start up and +throng around us in the paleness of their fall. May every schoolboy +who reads this page be warned by the waving of their wasted hands, +from that burning marle of passion, where they found nothing but +shame and ruin, polluted affections, and an early grave.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> +<br> +<h3>DORMITORY LIFE</h3> +<blockquote>[Greek: Aspasiae trillistos hepaeluths nux +herebennae.]<br> +HOM.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>For a few days after the Sunday walk narrated in the last +chapter, Upton and Eric cut each other dead. Upton was angry at +Eric's declining the honor of his company, and Eric was piqued at +Upton's unreasonableness. In the "taking up" system, such quarrels +were of frequent occurrence, and as the existence of a +misunderstanding was generally indicated in this very public way, +the variations of good will between such friends generally excited +no little notice and amusement among the other boys. But both Upton +and Eric were too sensible to carry their differences so far as +others similarly circumstanced; each thoroughly enjoyed the other's +company, and they generally seized an early opportunity for +effecting a reconciliation, which united them more firmly than +ever.</p> +<p>As soon as Eric had got over his little pique, he made the first +advances, by writing a note to Upton, which he slipped under his +study door, and which ran as follows:--</p> +<p>"Dear Horace--Don't let us quarrel about nothing. Silly fellow, +why should you be angry with me because for once I wanted to go a +walk with Russell, who, by the bye, is twice as good a fellow as +you? I shall expect you to make it up directly after +prayers.--Yours, if you are not silly, E.W."</p> +<p>The consequence was, that as they came out from prayers, Upton +seized Eric's hand, and slapped him on the back, after which they +had a good laugh over their own foolish fracas, and ran up stairs +chattering merrily.</p> +<p>"There's to be an awful lark in the dormitories tonight," said +Eric; "the doctor's gone to a dinner-party, and we're going to have +no end of fun."</p> +<p>"Are you? Well, if it gets amusing, come to my study and tell +me, I'll come and look on."</p> +<p>"Very well; depend upon it, I'll come." And they parted at the +foot of the study stairs.</p> +<p>It was Mr. Rose's night of duty. He walked slowly up and down +the range of Dormitories until every boy seemed ready to get into +bed, and then he put out all the candles. So long as he was +present, the boys observed the utmost quiet and decorum. All +continued quite orderly until he had passed away through the +lavatory, and one of the boys following him as a scout, had seen +the last glimmer of his candle disappear round the corner at the +foot of the great staircase, and heard the library door close +behind him.</p> +<p>After that, particularly as Dr. Rowlands was absent, the boys +knew that they were safe from disturbance, and the occupants of No. +7 were the first to stir.</p> +<p>"Now for some fun," said Duncan, starting up, and by way of +initiative pitching his pillow at Eric's head.</p> +<p>"I'll pay you out for that when I'm ready," said Eric, laughing; +"but give us a match, first."</p> +<p>Duncan produced some vestas, and no sooner had they lighted +their candle, than several of the dormitory doors began to be +thrown open, and one after another all requested a light, which +Duncan and Eric conveyed to them in a sort of emulous +lampadephoria, so that a length all the twelve dormitories had +their sconces lit, and the boys began all sorts of amusement, some +in their night-shirts and others with their trousers slipped on. +Leap-frog was the prevalent game for a time, but at last Graham +suggested theatricals, and they were agreed on.</p> +<p>"But we're making a regular knock-me-down shindy," said +Llewellyn; "somebody must keep cavè."</p> +<p>"O, old Rose is safe enough at his Hebrew in the library; no +fear of disturbing him if we were dancing hippopotami," answered +Graham.</p> +<p>But it was generally considered safest to put some one at the +top of the stairs, in case of an unexpected diversion in that +direction, and little Wright consented to go first. He had only to +leave the lavatory door open; and stand at the top of the +staircase, and he then commanded for a great distance the only +avenue in which danger was expected. If any master's candle +appeared n the hall, the boys had full three minutes' warning, and +a single loudly-whispered "cave" would cause some one in each +dormitory instantly to "douse the glim," and shut the door; so that +by the time of the adversary's arrival, they would all be (of +course) fast asleep in bed, some of them snoring in an alarming +manner. Whatever noise the master might have heard, it would be +impossible to fix it on any of the sleepers.</p> +<p>So at the top of the stairs stood little Wright, shoeless, and +shivering in his night-gown, but keenly entering into the fun, and +not unconscious of the dignity of his position. Meanwhile the rest +were getting up a scenic representation of Bombastes Furioso, +arranging a stage, piling a lot of beds together for a theatre, and +dressing up the actors in the most fantastic apparel.</p> +<p>The impromptu Bombastes excited universal applause, and just at +the end Wright ran in through the lavatory.</p> +<p>"I say," said the little fellow, "it's jolly cold standing at +the top of the stairs. Won't some one relieve guard?"</p> +<p>"O, I will," answered Eric, good-naturedly; "it's a shame that +one fellow should have all the bother and none of the fun;" and he +ran to take Wright's post.</p> +<p>After watching a minute or two, he felt sure that there was no +danger, and therefore ran up to Upton's study for a change.</p> +<p>"Well, what's up?" said the study-boy, approvingly, as he +glanced at Eric's laughing eyes.</p> +<p>"O, we've been having leap-frog, and then Bombastes Furioso. But +I'm keeping 'cavè' now; only it's so cold that I thought I'd +run up to your study."</p> +<p>"Little traitor; we'll shoot you for a deserting sentinel."</p> +<p>"O no;" said Eric, "it's all serene; Rowley's out, and dear old +Rose'd never dream of supposing us elsewhere than in the arms of +Morpheus. Besides the fellows are making less row now."</p> +<p>"Well! look here! let's go and look on, and I'll tell you a +dodge; put one of the tin washing-basins against the iron door of +the lavatory, and then if any one comes he'll make clang enough to +wake dead; and while he's amusing himself with this, there'll be +lots of time to 'extinguish the superfluous abundance of the +nocturnal illuminators.' Eh?"</p> +<p>"Capital!" said Eric, "come along."</p> +<p>They went down and arranged the signal very artistically, +leaving the iron door ajar a little, and then neatly poising the +large tin basin on its edge, so as to lean against it. Having +extremely enjoyed this part of the proceeding, they went to look at +the theatricals again, the boys being highly delighted at Upton's +appearance among them.</p> +<p>They at once made Eric take a part in some very distant +reminiscences of Macbeth, and corked his cheeks with whiskers and +mustachios to make him resemble Banquo, his costume being completed +by a girdle round his nightshirt, consisting of a very fine crimson +silk handkerchief, richly broidered with gold, which had been +brought to him from India, and which at first, in the innocence of +his heart, he used to wear on Sundays, until he acquired the +sobriquet of "the Dragon." Duncan made a superb Macbeth.</p> +<p>They were doing the dagger-scene, which was put on the stage in +a most novel manner. A sheet had been pinned from the top of the +room, on one side of which stood a boy with a broken dinner knife, +the handle end of which he was pushing through a hole in the middle +of the sheet at the shadow of Duncan on the other side.</p> +<p>Duncan himself, in an attitude of intensely affected melodrama, +was spouting--</p> +<blockquote>"Is this a dagger which I see before me?<br> +The handle towards me now? come, let me clutch thee;"</blockquote> +<p>And he snatched convulsively at the handle of the protruded +knife; but as soon as he nearly touched it, this end was +immediately withdrawn, and the blade end substituted, which made +the comic Macbeth instantly draw back again, and recommence his +apostrophe. This scene had tickled the audience immensely, and +Duncan, amid shouts of laughter, was just drawing the somewhat +unwarrantable conclusion that it was</p> +<blockquote>"A dagger of the mind, a false creation,"</blockquote> +<p>when a sudden grating, followed by a reverbrated clang, produced +a dead silence.</p> +<p>"Cavè," shouted Eric, and took a flying leap into his +bed. Instantly there was a bolt in different directions; the sheet +was torn down, the candles dashed out, the beds shoved aside, and +the dormitories at once plunged in profound silence, only broken by +the heavy breathing of sleepers, when in strode--not Mr. Rose or +any of the under masters--but--Dr. Rowlands himself!</p> +<p>He stood for a moment to survey the scene. All the dormitory +doors were wide open; the sheet which had formed the stage curtain +lay torn on the floor of No. 7; the beds in all the adjoining rooms +were in the strangest positions; and half-extinguished wicks still +smouldered in several of the sconces. Every boy was in bed, but the +extraordinary way in which the bed clothes were huddled about told +an unmistakeable tale.</p> +<p>He glanced quickly round, but the moment he had passed into No. +8, he heard a run, and, turning, just caught sight of Upton's +figure vanishing into the darkness of the lavatory, towards the +study stairs.</p> +<p>He said not a word, but stalked hastily through all dormitories, +again stopping at No. 7 on his return.</p> +<p>He heard nothing but the deep snores of Duncan, and instantly +fixed on him as a chief culprit.</p> +<p>"Duncan!"</p> +<p>No reply; but calm stertorous music from Duncan's bed.</p> +<p>"Duncan!" he said, still louder and more sternly, "you sleep +soundly, sir, too soundly; get up directly," and he laid his hand +on the boy's arm.</p> +<p>"Get away, you old donkey," said Duncan sleepily; "'t, aint time +to get up yet. First bell hasn't rung."</p> +<p>"Come, sir, this shamming will only increase your punishment;" +but the imperturbable Duncan stretched himself lazily, gave a great +yawn, and then awoke with such an admirably feigned start at seeing +Dr. Rowlands, that Eric, who had been peeping at the scene from +over his bed-clothes, burst into an irresistible explosion of +laughter.</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands swung round on his heel--"What! Williams! get out +of bed, sir, this instant."</p> +<p>Eric, forgetful of his disguise, sheepishly obeyed; but when he +stood on the floor, he looked so odd in his crimson girdle and +corked cheeks, with Dr. Rowlands surveying him in intense +astonishment, that the scene became overpoweringly ludicrous to +Duncan, who now in his turn was convulsed with a storm of laughter, +faintly echoed in stifled titterings from other beds.</p> +<p>"<i>Very</i> good," said Dr. Rowlands, now thoroughly angry, +"you will hear of this to-morrow;" and he walked away with a heavy +step, stopping at the lavatory door to restore the tin basin to its +proper place, and then mounting to the studies.</p> +<p>Standing in the passage into which the studies opened, he +knocked at one of the doors, and told a boy to summon all their +occupants at once to the library.</p> +<p>Meanwhile, the dormitory-boys were aghast, and as soon as they +heard the doctor's retreating footsteps, began flocking in the dark +to No. 7, not daring to relight their candles.</p> +<p>"Good gracious!" said Attlay, "only to think of Rowley +appearing! How could he have twigged?"</p> +<p>"He must have seen our lights in the window as he came home," +said Eric.</p> +<p>"I say, what a row that tin-basin dodge of yours made! What a +rage the Doctor will be in to-morrow?"</p> +<p>"Won't you just catch it!" said Barker to Duncan, but intending +the remark for Eric.</p> +<p>"Just like your mean chaff," retorted Duncan. "But I say, +Williams," he continued, laughing, "you <i>did</i> look so funny in +the whiskers."</p> +<p>At this juncture they heard all the study-boys running down +stairs to the library, and, lost in conjecture, retired to their +different rooms.</p> +<p>"What do you think he'll do to us?" asked Eric.</p> +<p>"I don't know," said Duncan uneasily; "flog us, for one thing, +that's certain. I'm so sorry about that basin, Eric; but it's no +good fretting. We've had our cake, and now we must pay for it, +that's all."</p> +<p>Eric's cogitations began to be unpleasant, when the door opened, +and somebody stole noiselessly in.</p> +<p>"Who's there?"</p> +<p>"Upton. I've come to have a chat. The Doctor's like a +turkey-cock in sight of a red handkerchief. Never saw him in such a +rage."</p> +<p>"Why, what's he been saying?" asked Eric, as Upton came and took +a seat on his bed.</p> +<p>"Oh! he's been rowing us like six o'clock," said Upton, "about +'moral responsibility,' 'abetting the follies of children,' +'forgetting our position in the school,' and I don't know what all; +and he ended by asking who'd been in the dormitories. Of course I +confessed the soft impeachment, whereon he snorted 'Ha! I suspected +so. Very well, Sir, you don't know how to use a study; you shall be +deprived of it till the end of term.'"</p> +<p>"Did he really, Horace?" said Eric. "And it's all my doing that +you've got into the scrape. Do forgive me."</p> +<p>"Bosh! My dear fellow," said Upton, "it's twice as much my fault +as yours; and, after all, it was only a bit of fun. It's rather a +bore losing the study, certainly; but never mind, we shall see all +the more of each other. Good night; I must be off."</p> +<p>Next morning, prayers were no sooner over than Dr. Rowlands said +to the boys, "Stop! I have a word to say to you."</p> +<p>"I find that there was the utmost disorder in the dormitories +yesterday evening. All the candles were relighted at forbidden +hours, and the noise made was so great that it was heard through +the whole building. I am grieved that I cannot leave you, even for +a few hours, without your taking such advantage of my absence; and +that the upper boys, so far from using their influence to prevent +these infractions of discipline, seem inclined rather to join in +them themselves. On this occasion I have punished Upton, by +depriving him of a privilege which he has abused; and as I myself +detected Duncan and Williams, they will be flogged in the library +at twelve. But I now come to the worst part of the proceeding. +Somebody had been reckless enough to try and prevent surprise by +the dangerous expedient of putting a tin basin against the iron +door. The consequence was, that I was severely hurt, and +<i>might</i> have been seriously injured in entering the lavatory. +I must know the name of the delinquent."</p> +<p>Upton and Eric immediately stood up. Dr. Rowlands looked +surprised, and there was an expression of grieved interest in Mr. +Rose's face.</p> +<p>"Very well," said the Doctor, "I shall speak to you both +privately."</p> +<p>Twelve o'clock came, and Duncan and Eric received a severe +caning. Corporal punishment, however necessary and desirable for +some dispositions, always produced on Eric the worst effects. He +burned, not with remorse or regret, but with shame and violent +indignation, and listened, with a glare in his eye, to Dr. +Rowlands' warnings. When the flogging was over, he almost rushed +out of the room, to choke in solitude his sense of humiliation, nor +would he suffer any one for an instant to allude to his disgrace. +Dr. Rowlands had hinted that Upton was doing him no good; but he +passionately resented the suggestion, and determined, with +obstinate perversity, to cling more than ever to the boy whom he +had helped to involve in the same trouble with himself.</p> +<p>Any attempt on the part of masters to interfere in the +friendships of boys is usually unsuccessful. The boy who has been +warned against his new acquaintance not seldom repeats to him the +fact that Mr. So-and-so doesn't like seeing them together, and +after that they fancy themselves bound in honor to show that they +are not afraid of continuing their connection. It was not strange, +therefore, that Eric and Upton were thrown more than ever into each +other's society, and consequently, that Eric, while he improved +daily in strength, activity, and prowess, neglected more and more +his school duties and honorable ambitions.</p> +<p>Mr. Rose sadly remarked the failure of promise in his character +and abilities, and did all that could be done, by gentle firmness +and unwavering kindness, to recal his pupil to a sense of duty. One +night he sent for him to supper, and invited no one else. During +the evening he drew out Eric's exercise, and compared it with, +those of Russell and Owen, who were now getting easily ahead of him +in marks. Eric's was careless, hurried, and untidy; the other two +were neat, spirited, and painstaking, and had, therefore, been +marked much higher.</p> +<p>"Your exercises <i>used</i> to be far better--I may say +incomparably better," said Mr. Rose; "what is the cause of this +falling off?"</p> +<p>Eric was silent.</p> +<p>Mr. Rose laid his hand gently on his head. "I fear, my boy, you +have not been improving lately. You have got into many scrapes, and +are letting boys beat you in form who are far your inferiors in +ability. That is a very bad <i>sign</i>, Eric; in itself it is a +discouraging fact, but I fear it indicates worse evils. You are +wasting the golden hours, my boy, that can never return. I only +hope and trust that no other change for the worse is going on in +your character."</p> +<p>And so he talked on till the boy's sorrow was undisguised. +"Come," he said gently, "let us kneel down together before we +part."</p> +<p>Boy and master knelt down humbly side by side, and, from a full +heart, the young man poured out his fervent petitions for the child +beside him. Eric's heart seemed to catch a glow from his words, and +he loved him as a brother. He rose from his knees full of the +strongest resolutions, and earnestly promised amendment for the +future.</p> +<p>But poor Eric did not yet know his own infirmity. For a time, +indeed, there was a marked improvement; but daily life flowed on +with its usual allurements, and when the hours of temptation came, +his good intentions melted away, so that, in a few more weeks, the +prayer, and the vows that followed it, had been obliterated from +his memory without leaving any traces in his life.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<br> +<h3>ERIC IN COVENTRY</h3> +<blockquote> + "And +either greet him not<br> +Or else disdainfully, which shall shake him more<br> +Than if not looked on."--TROILUS AND CRESSIDA, iii. 3.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>Upton, expatriated from his study, was allowed to use one of the +smaller class-rooms which were occupied during play-hours by those +boys who were too high in the school for "the boarders' room," and +who were waiting to succeed to the studies as they fell vacant. +There were three or four others with him in this class-room, and +although it was less pleasant than his old quarters, it was yet far +more comfortable than the Pandemonium of the shell and fourth-form +boys.</p> +<p>As a general rule, no boys were allowed to sit in any of the +class-rooms except their legitimate occupants. The rule, however, +was very generally overlooked, and hence Eric, always glad of an +opportunity to escape from the company of Barker and his +associates, became a constant frequenter of his friend's new abode. +Here they used to make themselves very comfortable. Joining the +rest, they would drink coffee or chocolate, and amuse themselves +over the fire with Punch, or some warlike novel in a green or +yellow cover. One of them very often read aloud to the rest: and +Eric, being both a good reader and a merry, intelligent listener, +soon became quite a favorite among the other boys.</p> +<p>Mr. Rose had often seen him sitting there, and left him +unmolested; but if ever Mr. Gordon happened to come in and notice +him, he invariably turned him out, and after the first offence or +two, had several times set him an imposition. This treatment gave +fresh intensity to his now deeply-seated disgust at his late +master, and his expressions of indignation at "Gordon's spite" were +loud and frequent.</p> +<p>One day Mr. Gordon had accidentally come in, and found no one +there but Upton and Eric; they were standing very harmlessly by the +window, with Upton's arm resting kindly on Eric's shoulder as they +watched with admiration the net-work of rippled sunbeams that +flashed over the sea. Upton had just been telling Eric the splendid +phrase [Greek: anêrithmon gelasma pontiôn], which he +had stumbled upon in an Aeschylus lesson that morning, and they +were trying which would hit on the best rendering of it. Eric stuck +up for the literal sublimity of "the innumerable laughter of the +sea," while Upton was trying to win him over to "the many-twinkling +smile of ocean." They were enjoying the discussion, and each +stoutly maintaining his own rendering, when Mr. Gordon entered.</p> +<p>On this occasion he was particularly angry; he had an especial +dislike of seeing the two boys together, because he fancied that +the younger had grown more than usually conceited and neglectful, +since he had been under the fifth-form patronage; and he saw in +Eric's presence there, a new case of wilful disobedience.</p> +<p>"Williams, here <i>again!</i>" he exclaimed sharply. "Why, sir, +you seem to suppose that you may defy rules with impunity! How +often have I told you that no one is allowed to sit here, except +the regular occupants?"</p> +<p>His voice startled the two boys from their pleasant +discussion.</p> +<p>"No other master takes any notice of it, sir," said Upton.</p> +<p>"I have nothing to do with other masters, Williams, you will +bring me the fourth Georgic, written out by Saturday morning, for +your repeated disobedience. Upton, I have a great mind to punish +you also, for tempting him to come here."</p> +<p>This was a mistake on Mr. Gordon's part, of which Upton took +immediate advantage.</p> +<p>"I have no power to prevent it, sir, if he wishes it. Besides," +he continued, with annoying blandness of tone, "it would be +inhospitable; and I am too glad of his company."</p> +<p>Eric smiled, and Mr. Gordon frowned. "Williams, leave the room +instantly."</p> +<p>The boy obeyed slowly and doggedly. "Mr. Rose never interferes +with me, when he sees me here," he said as he retreated.</p> +<p>"Then I shall request Mr. Rose to do so in future; your conceit +and impertinence are getting intolerable."</p> +<p>Eric only answered with a fiery glance; the next minute Upton +joined him on the stairs, and Mr. Gordon heard them laughing a +little ostentatiously, as they ran out into the playground +together. He went away full of strong contempt, and from that +moment began to look on the friends as two of the worst boys in the +school.</p> +<p>This incident had happened on Thursday, which was a +half-holiday, and instead of being able to join in any of the +games, Eric had to spend that weary afternoon in writing away at +the fourth Georgic; Upton staying in a part of the time to help him +a little, by dictating the lines to him--an occupation not +unfrequently interrupted by storms of furious denunciation against +Mr. Gordon's injustice and tyranny; Eric vowing "that he would pay +him out somehow yet."</p> +<p>The imposition was not finished that evening, and it again +consumed some of the next day's leisure, part of it being written +between schools in the forbidden class-room. Still it was not quite +finished on Friday afternoon at six, when school ended, and Eric +stayed a few minutes behind the rest to scribble off the last ten +lines; which done, he banged down the lid of his desk, not locking +it, and ran out.</p> +<p>The next morning an incident happened which involved +considerable consequences to some of the actors in my story.</p> +<p>Mr. Rose and several other masters had not a room to themselves, +like Mr. Gordon, but heard their forms in the great hall. At one +end of this hall was a board used for the various school notices, +to which there were always affixed two or three pieces of paper +containing announcements about examinations and other matters of +general interest.</p> +<p>On Saturday morning (when Eric was to give up his Georgic), the +boys, as they dropped into the hall for morning school, observed a +new notice on the board, and, thronging round to see what it was, +read these words, written on a half-sheet of paper, attached by +wafers to the board--</p> +<p>"GORDON IS A SURLY DEVIL."</p> +<p>As may be supposed, so completely novel an announcement took +them all very much by surprise, and they wondered who had been so +audacious as to play this trick. But their wonder was cut short by +the entrance of the masters, and they all took their seats, without +any one tearing down the dangerous paper.</p> +<p>After a few minutes the eye of the second master, Mr. Ready, +fell on the paper, and, going up, he read it, stood for a moment +transfixed with astonishment, and then called Mr. Rose.</p> +<p>Pointing to the inscription, he said: "I think we had better +leave that there, Rose, exactly as it is, till Dr. Rowlands has +seen it. Would you mind asking him to step in here?"</p> +<p>Just at this juncture Eric came in, having been delayed by Mr. +Gordon while he rigidly inspected the imposition. As he took his +seat, Montagu, who was next him, whispered--</p> +<p>"I say, have you seen the notice-board?"</p> +<p>"No. Why?"</p> +<p>"Why, some fellow has been writing up an opinion of Gordon not +very favorable."</p> +<p>"And serve him right, too, brute!" said Eric, smarting with the +memory of his imposition.</p> +<p>"Well, there'll be no end of a row; you'll see."</p> +<p>During this conversation, Dr. Rowlands came in with Mr. Rose. He +read the paper, frowned, pondered a moment, and then said to Mr. +Rose--"Would you kindly summon the lower school into the hall? As +it would be painful to Mr. Gordon to be present, you had better +explain to him how matters stand."</p> +<p>"Halloa! here's a rumpus!" whispered Montagu; "he never has the +lower school down for nothing."</p> +<p>A noise was heard on the stairs, and in flocked the lower +school. When they had ranged themselves on the vacant forms, there +was a dead silence and hush of expectation.</p> +<p>"I have summoned you all together," said the Doctor, "on a most +serious occasion. This morning, on coming into the school-room, the +masters found that the notice-board had been abused for the purpose +of writing up an insult to one of our number, which is at once +coarse and wicked. As only a few of you have seen it, it becomes my +deeply painful duty to inform you of its purport; the words are +these--'Gordon is a surly devil.'"--A <i>very</i> slight titter +followed this statement, which was instantly succeeded by a sort of +thrilling excitement; but Eric, when he heard the words, started +perceptibly, and colored as he caught Montagu's eye fixed on +him.</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands continued--"I suppose this dastardly impertinence +has been perpetrated by some boy out of a spirit of revenge. I am +perfectly amazed at the unparalleled audacity and meanness of the +attempt, and it may be very difficult to discover the author of it. +But, depend upon it, discover him <i>we will</i>, at whatever cost. +Whoever the offender may be, and he must be listening to me at this +moment, let him be assured that he shall <i>not</i> be unpunished. +His guilty secret shall be torn from him. His punishment can only +be mitigated by his instantly yielding himself up."</p> +<p>No one stirred, but during the latter part of this address Eric +was so uneasy, and his cheek burned with such hot crimson, that +several eyes were upon him, and the suspicions of more than one boy +were awakened.</p> +<p>"Very well," said the head master, "the guilty boy is not +inclined to confess. Mark, then; if his name has not been given up +to me by to-day week, every indulgence to the school will be +forfeited, the next whole holiday stopped, and the coming +cricket-match prohibited."</p> +<p>"The handwriting may be some clue," suggested Mr. Ready. "Would +you have any objection to my examining the note-books of the +Shell?"</p> +<p>"None at all. The Shell-boys are to show their books to Mr. +Ready immediately."</p> +<p>The head-boy of the Shell collected the books, and took them to +the desk; the three masters glanced casually at about a dozen, and +suddenly stopped at one. Eric's heart beat loud, as his saw Mr. +Rose point towards him.</p> +<p>"We have discovered a handwriting which remarkably resembles +that on the board. I give the offender one more chance of +substituting confession for detection."</p> +<p>No one stirred; but Montagu felt that his friend was trembling +violently.</p> +<p>"Eric Williams, stand out in the room."</p> +<p>Blushing scarlet, and deeply agitated, the boy obeyed</p> +<p>"The writing on the notice is exactly like yours. Do you know +anything of this shameful proceeding?"</p> +<p>"Nothing, sir," he murmured in a low tone.</p> +<p>"Nothing whatever?"</p> +<p>"Nothing whatever, sir."</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands' look searched him through and through, and seemed +to burn into his heart. He did not meet it, but hung his head. The +Doctor felt certain from his manner that he was guilty. He chained +him to the spot with his glance for a minute or two, and then said +slowly, and with a deep sigh--</p> +<p>"Very well; I <i>hope</i> you have spoken the truth; but whether +you have or no, we shall soon discover. The school, and especially +the upper boys, will remember what I have said. I shall now tear +down the insulting notice, and put it into your hands, Avonley, as +head of the school, that you may make further inquiries." He left +the room, and the boys resumed their usual avocation till twelve +o'clock. But poor Eric could hardly get through his ordinary +pursuits; he felt sick and giddy, until everybody noticed his +strange embarrassed manner, and random answers.</p> +<p>No sooner had twelve o'clock struck, than the whole school broke +up into knots of buzzing and eager talkers.</p> +<p>"I wonder who did it," said a dozen voices at once.</p> +<p>"The writing was undoubtedly Williams'," suggested some.</p> +<p>"And did you notice how red and pale he got when the Doctor +spoke to him, and how he hung his head?"</p> +<p>"Yes; and one knows how he hates Gordon."</p> +<p>"Ay; by the bye, Gordon set him a Georgic only on Thursday, and +he has been swearing at him ever since."</p> +<p>"I noticed that he stayed in after all the rest last night," +said Barker.</p> +<p>"Did he? By Jove, that looks bad."</p> +<p>"Has any one charged him with it?" asked Duncan.</p> +<p>"Yes," answered one of the group: "but he's as proud about it as +Lucifer, and is furious if you mention it to him. He says we ought +to know him better than to think him capable of such a thing."</p> +<p>"And quite right, too," said Duncan. "If he did it, he's done +something totally unlike what one would have believed possible of +him."</p> +<p>The various items of evidence were put together, and certainly +they seemed to prove a strong case against Eric. In addition to the +probabilities already mentioned, it was found that the ink used was +of a violet color, and a peculiar kind, which Eric was known to +patronise; and not only so, but the wafers with which the paper had +been attached to the board were yellow, and exactly of the same +size with some which Eric was said to possess. How the latter facts +had been discovered, nobody exactly knew, but they began to be very +generally whispered throughout the school.</p> +<p>In short, the almost universal conviction among the boys +proclaimed that he was guilty, and many urged him to confess it at +once, and save the school from the threatened punishment. But he +listened to such suggestions with the most passionate +indignation.</p> +<p>"What!" he said, angrily, "tell a wilful lie to blacken my own +innocent character? Never!"</p> +<p>The consequence was, they all began to shun him. Eric was put +into Coventry. Very few boys in the school still clung to him, and +maintained his innocence in spite of appearances, but they were the +boys whom he had most loved and valued, and they were most vigorous +in his defence. They were Russell, Montagu, Duncan, Owen, and +little Wright.</p> +<p>On the evening of the Saturday, Upton had sought out Eric, and +said in a very serious tone, "This is a bad business, Williams. I +cannot forget how you have been abusing Gordon lately, and though I +won't believe you guilty, yet you ought to explain."</p> +<p>"What? even <i>you</i>, then suspect me?" said Eric, bursting +into proud tears. "Very well. I shan't condescend to <i>deny</i> +it. I won't speak to you again till you have repented of +mistrusting me;" and he resolutely rejected all further overtures +on Upton's part.</p> +<p>He was alone in his misery. Some one, he perceived, had plotted +to destroy his character, and he saw too clearly how many causes of +suspicion told against him. But it was very bitter to think that +the whole school could so readily suppose that he would do a thing +which from his soul he abhorred. "No," he thought, "bad I may be, +but I <i>could</i> not have done such a base and cowardly +trick."</p> +<p>Never in his life had he been so wretched. He wandered alone to +the rocks, and watched the waves dashing against them with the +rising tide. The tumult of the weather seemed to relieve and +console the tumult of his heart. He drank in strength and defiance +from the roar of the waters, and climbed to their very edge along +the rocks, where every fresh, rush of the waves enveloped him in +white swirls of angry loam. The look of the green, rough, hungry +sea, harmonised with his feelings, and he sat down and stared into +it, to find relief from the torment of his thoughts.</p> +<p>At last, with a deep sigh, he turned away to go back, and meet +the crowd of suspicious and unkindly companions, and brood alone +over his sorrow in the midst of them. He had not gone many steps, +when he caught sight of Russell in the distance. His first impulse +was to run away and escape; but Russell determined to stop him, and +when he came up, said, "Dear Eric, I have sought you out on purpose +to tell you that <i>I</i> don't suspect you, and have never done so +for a moment. I know you too well, my boy, and be sure that +<i>I</i> will always stick to you, even if the whole school cut +you."</p> +<p>"Oh, Edwin, I am <i>so</i> wretched. I needn't tell you that I +am quite innocent of this. What have I done to be so suspected? +Why, even your cousin Upton won't believe me."</p> +<p>"But he does, Eric," said Russell; "he told me so just now, and +several others said the same thing."</p> +<p>A transient gleam passed over Eric's face.</p> +<p>"O, I do so long for home again," he said. "Except you, I have +no friend."</p> +<p>"Don't say so, Eric. This cloud will soon blow over. Depend upon +it, as the Doctor said, we shall discover the offender yet, and the +fellows will soon make you reparation for their false suspicions. +And you <i>have</i> one friend, Eric," he continued, pointing +reverently upwards.</p> +<p>Eric was overcome; he sat down on the grass and hid his face +till the tears flowed through his closed fingers. Russell sat +silent and pitying beside him, and let Eric's head rest upon his +shoulder.</p> +<p>When they got home, Eric found three notes in his drawer. One +was from Mr. Gordon, and ran thus:--</p> +<p>"I have little doubt, Williams, that you have done this act. +Believe me, I feel no anger, only pity for you. Come to me and +confess, and I promise, by every means in my power, to befriend and +save you."</p> +<p>This note he read, and then, stamping on the floor, tore it up +furiously into twenty pieces, which he scattered about the +room.</p> +<p>Another was from Mr. Rose;</p> +<p>"Dear Eric--I <i>cannot, will</i> not, believe you guilty, +although appearances look very black. You have many faults, but I +feel sure that I cannot be mistaken in supposing you too +noble-minded for a revenge so petty and so mean. Come to me, dear +boy, if I can help you in any way. I <i>trust you</i>, Eric, and +will use every endeavor to right you in the general estimation. You +are innocent; pray to God for help under this cruel trial, and be +sure that your character will yet be cleared.--Affectionately +yours, WALTER ROSE."</p> +<p>"<i>P.S.</i>--I can easily understand that just now you will +like quiet; come and sit with me in the library as much as you +like."</p> +<p>He read this note two or three times with grateful emotion, and +at that moment would have died for Mr. Rose. The third note was +from Owen, as follows:--</p> +<p>"Dear Williams--We have been cool to each other lately; +naturally, perhaps. But yet I think that it will be some +consolation to you to be told, even by a rival, that I, for one, +feel certain of your innocence. If you want company, I shall be +delighted now to walk with you.--Yours truly, D. OWEN."</p> +<p>This note, too, brought much comfort to the poor boy's lonely +and passionate heart. He put it into his pocket, and determined at +once to accept Mr. Rose's kind offer of allowing him to sit for the +present in the library.</p> +<p>There were several boys in the room while he was reading his +notes, but none of them spoke to him, and he was too proud to +notice them, or interrupt the constrained silence. As he went out +he met Duncan and Montagu, who at once addressed him in the hearing +of the rest.</p> +<p>"Ha! Williams," said Duncan, "we have been looking everywhere +for you, dear fellow. Cheer up, you shall be cleared yet. I, for +one, and Monty for another, will maintain your innocence before the +whole school."</p> +<p>Montagu <i>said</i> nothing, but Eric understood full well the +trustful kindness of his soft pressure of the hand. His heart was +too full to speak, and he went on towards the library.</p> +<p>"I wonder at your speaking to that fellow," said Bull, as the +two new comers joined the group at the fire-place.</p> +<p>"You will be yourself ashamed of having ever suspected him +before long," said Montagu warmly; "ay, the whole lot of you; and +you are very unkind to condemn him before you are certain."</p> +<p>"I wish you joy of your <i>friend</i>, Duncan," sneered +Barker.</p> +<p>"Friend?" said Duncan, firing up; "yes! he is my friend, and I'm +not ashamed of him. It would be well for the school if <i>all</i> +the fellows were as honorable as Williams."</p> +<p>Barker took the hint, and although he was too brazen to blush, +thought it better to say no more.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<br> +<h3>THE TRIAL</h3> +<blockquote>"A plot, a plot, a plot, to ruin all." TENNYSON, <i>The +Princess</i>.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>On the Monday evening, the head boy reported to Dr. Rowlands +that the perpetrator of the offence had not been discovered, but +that one boy was very generally suspected, and on grounds that +seemed plausible. "I admit," he added, "that from the little I know +of him he seems to me a very unlikely sort of boy to do it."</p> +<p>"I think," suggested the Doctor, "that the best way would be for +you to have a regular trial on the subject, and hear the evidence. +Do you think that you can be trusted to carry on the investigation +publicly, with good order and fairness?"</p> +<p>"I think so, sir," said Avonley.</p> +<p>"Very well. Put up a notice, asking all the school to meet by +themselves in the boarders' room tomorrow afternoon at three, and +see what you can do among you."</p> +<p>Avonley did as the Doctor suggested. At first, when the boys +assembled, they seemed inclined to treat the matter as a joke, and +were rather disorderly; but Avonley briefly begged them, if they +determined to have a trial, to see that it was conducted sensibly; +and by general consent he was himself voted into the desk as +president. He then got up and said--</p> +<p>"There must be no sham or nonsense about this affair. Let all +the boys take their seats quietly down the room."</p> +<p>They did so, and Avonley asked, "Is Williams here?"</p> +<p>Looking round, they discovered he was not. Russell instantly +went to the library to fetch him, and told him what was going on. +He took Eric's arm kindly as they entered, to show the whole school +that he was not ashamed of him, and Eric deeply felt the delicacy +of his goodwill.</p> +<p>"Are you willing to be tried, Williams," asked Avonley, "on the +charge of having written the insulting paper about Mr. Gordon? Of +course we know very little how these kind of things ought to be +conducted, but we will see that everything done is open and above +ground, and try to manage it properly."</p> +<p>"There is nothing I should like better," said Eric.</p> +<p>He had quite recovered his firm, manly bearing. A quiet +conversation with his dearly loved friend and master had assured +him in the confidence of innocence, and though the color on his +cheek had through excitement sunk into two bright red spots, he +looked wonderfully noble and winning as he stood before the boys in +the centre of the room. His appearance caused a little reaction in +his favor, and a murmur of applause followed his answer.</p> +<p>"Good," said Avonley; "who will prosecute on the part of the +school?"</p> +<p>There was a pause. Nobody seemed to covet the office.</p> +<p>"Very well; if no one is willing to prosecute, the charge +drops."</p> +<p>"I will do it," said Gibson, a Rowlandite, one of the study boys +at the top of the fifth form. He was a clever fellow, and Eric +liked the little he had seen of him.</p> +<p>"Have you any objection, Williams, to the jury being composed of +the sixth form? or are there any names among them which you wish to +challenge?"</p> +<p>"No," said Eric, glancing round with confidence.</p> +<p>"Well, now, who will defend the accused?"</p> +<p>Another pause, and Upton got up.</p> +<p>"No," said Eric, at once. "You were inclined to distrust me, +Upton, and I will only be defended by somebody who never doubted my +innocence."</p> +<p>Another pause followed, and then, blushing crimson, Russell got +up. "I am only a Shell-boy," he said, "but if Eric doesn't mind +trusting his cause to me, I will defend him, since no other +fifth-form fellow stirs."</p> +<p>"Thank you, Russell, <i>I wanted</i> you to offer, I could wish +no better defender."</p> +<p>"Will Owen, Duncan, and Montagu help me, if they can?" asked +Russell.</p> +<p>"Very willingly," they all three said, and went to take their +seats by him. They conversed eagerly for a few minutes, and then +declared themselves ready.</p> +<p>"All I have got to do," said Gibson, rising, "is to bring before +the school the grounds for suspecting Williams, and all the +evidence which makes it probable that he is the offender. Now, +first of all, the thing must have been done between Friday evening +and Saturday morning; and since the school-room door is generally +locked soon after school, it was probably done in the short +interval between six and a quarter past. I shall now examine some +witnesses."</p> +<p>The first boy called upon was Pietrie, who deposed, that on +Friday evening, when he left the room, having been detained a few +minutes, the only boy remaining in it was Williams.</p> +<p>Carter, the school-servant, was then sent for, and deposed, that +he had met Master Williams hastily running out of the room, when he +went at a quarter past six to lock the door.</p> +<p>Examined by Gibson.--"Was any boy in the room when you did lock +the door?"</p> +<p>"No one."</p> +<p>"Did you meet any one else in the passage?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>Cross-examined by Russell.--"Do boys ever get into the room +after the door is locked?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"By what means?"</p> +<p>"Through the side windows."</p> +<p>"That will do."</p> +<p>Russell here whispered something to Duncan, who at once left the +room, and on returning, after a few minutes' absence, gave Russell +a significant nod.</p> +<p>Barker was next brought forward, and questioned by Gibson.</p> +<p>"Do you know that Williams is in the habit of using a particular +kind of ink?"</p> +<p>"Yes; it is of a violet color, and has a peculiar smell."</p> +<p>"Could you recognise anything written with it?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>Gibson here handed to Barker the paper which had caused so much +trouble.</p> +<p>"Is that the kind of ink?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"Do you know the handwriting on that paper?"</p> +<p>"Yes; it is Williams' hand."</p> +<p>"How can you tell?"</p> +<p>"He makes his r's in a curious way."</p> +<p>"Turn the paper over. Have you ever seen those kind of wafers +before?"</p> +<p>"Yes; Williams has a box of them in his desk."</p> +<p>"Has any other boy, that you are aware of, wafers like +those?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>Cross-examined by Duncan.--"<i>How</i> do you know that Williams +has wafers like those?"</p> +<p>"I have seen him use them."</p> +<p>"For what purpose?"</p> +<p>"To fasten letters."</p> +<p>"I can't help remarking that you seem very well acquainted with +what he does. Several of those who know him best, and have seen him +oftenest, never heard of these wafers. May I ask," he said, "if any +one else in the school will witness to having seen Williams use +these wafers?"</p> +<p>No one spoke, and Barker, whose malice seemed to have been +changed into uneasiness, sat down.</p> +<p>Upton was the next witness. Gibson began--"You have seen a good +deal of Williams?"</p> +<p>"Yes," said Upton smiling.</p> +<p>"Have you ever heard him express any opinion of Mr. Gordon?"</p> +<p>"Often."</p> +<p>"Of what kind?"</p> +<p>"Dislike and contempt," said Upton, amidst general laughter.</p> +<p>"Have you ever heard him say anything which implied a desire to +injure him?"</p> +<p>"The other day Mr. Gordon gave him a Georgic as an imposition, +and I heard Williams say that he would like to pay him out."</p> +<p>This last fact was new to the school, and excited a great +sensation.</p> +<p>"When did he say this?"</p> +<p>"On Friday afternoon."</p> +<p>Upton had given his evidence with great reluctance, although, +being simply desirous that the truth should come out, he concealed +nothing that he knew. He brightened up a little when Russell rose +to cross-examine him.</p> +<p>"Have you ever known Williams to do any mean act?"</p> +<p>"Never."</p> +<p>"Do you consider him a boy <i>likely</i> to have been guilty on +this occasion?"</p> +<p>"Distinctly the reverse. I am convinced of his innocence."</p> +<p>The answer was given with vehement emphasis, and Eric felt +greatly relieved by it.</p> +<p>One or two other boys were then called on as witnesses to the +great agitation which Eric had shown during the investigation in +the school-room, and then Gibson, who was a sensible, +self-contained fellow, said, "I have now done my part. I have shown +that the accused had a grudge against Mr. Gordon at the time of the +occurrence, and had threatened to be revenged on him; that he was +the last boy in the room during the time when the offence must have +been committed; that the handwriting is known to resemble his, and +that the ink and wafers employed were such as he, and he only, was +known to possess. In addition to all this, his behavior, when the +matter was first publicly noticed, was exactly such as coincides +with the supposition of his guilt. I think you will all agree in +considering these grounds of suspicion very strong; and leaving +them to carry their full weight with you, I close the case for the +prosecution."</p> +<p>The school listened to Gibson's quiet formality with a kind of +grim and gloomy satisfaction, and when he had concluded, there were +probably few but Eric's own immediate friends who were not fully +convinced of his guilt, however sorry they might be to admit so +unfavorable an opinion of a companion whom they all admired.</p> +<p>After a minute or two, Russell rose for the defence, and asked, +"Has Williams any objection to his desk being brought, and any of +its contents put in as evidence?"</p> +<p>"Not the least; there is the key, and you will find it in my +place in school."</p> +<p>The desk was brought, but it was found to be already unlocked, +and Russell looked at some of the note-paper which it contained. He +then began--"In spite of the evidence adduced, I think I can show +that Williams is not guilty. It is quite true that he dislikes Mr. +Gordon, and would not object to any open way of showing it; it is +quite true that he used the expressions attributed to him, and that +the ink and wafers are such as may be found in his desk, and that +the handwriting is not unlike his. But is it probable that a boy +intending to post up an insult such as this, would do so in a +manner, and at a time so likely to involve him in immediate +detection, and certain punishment? At any rate, he would surely +disguise his usual handwriting. Now, I ask any one to look at this +paper, and tell me whether it is not clear, on the contrary, that +these letters were traced slowly and with care, as would be the +case with an elaborate attempt to imitate?" Russell here handed the +paper to the jury, who again narrowly examined it.</p> +<p>"Now the evidence of Pietrie and Carter is of no use, because +Carter himself admitted that boys often enter the room by the +window; a fact to which we shall have to allude again.</p> +<p>"We admit the evidence about the ink and wafers. But it is +rather strange that Barker should know about the wafers, since +neither I, nor any other friend of Williams, often as we have sat +by him when writing letters, have ever observed that he possessed +any like them."</p> +<p>Several boys began to look at Barker, who was sitting very ill +at ease on the corner of a form, in vain trying to appear +unconcerned.</p> +<p>"There is another fact which no one yet knows, but which I must +mention. It will explain Williams' agitation when Dr. Rowlands read +out the words on that paper; and, confident of his innocence, I am +indifferent to its appearing to tell against him. I myself once +heard Williams use the very words written on that paper, and not +only heard them, but expostulated with him strongly for the use of +them. I need hardly say how very unlikely it is, that remembering +this, he should thus publicly draw my suspicions on him, if he +meant to insult Mr. Gordon, undiscovered. But, besides myself, +there was another boy who accidentally overheard that expression. +That boy was Barker.</p> +<p>"I have to bring forward a new piece of evidence which at least +ought to go for something. Looking at this half-sheet of +note-paper, I see that the printer's name on the stamp in the +corner is 'Graves, York.' Now, I have just found that there is no +paper at all like this in Williams' desk; all the note-paper it +contains is marked 'Blakes, Ayrton.'</p> +<p>"I might bring many witnesses to prove how very unlike Williams' +general character a trick of this kind would be. But I am not going +to do this. We think we know the real offender. We have had one +trial, and now demand another. It is our painful duty to prove +Williams' innocence by proving another's guilt. That other is a +known enemy of mine, and of Montagu's, and of Owen's. We therefore +leave the charge of stating the case against him to Duncan, with +whom he has never quarrelled."</p> +<p>Russell sat down amid general applause; he had performed his +task with a wonderful modesty and self-possession, which filled +every one with admiration, and Eric warmly pressed his hand.</p> +<p>The interest of the school was intensely excited, and Duncan, +after a minute's pause, starting up, said--"Williams has allowed +his desk to be brought in and examined. Will Barker do the +same?"</p> +<p>The real culprit now saw at once that his plot to ruin Eric was +recoiling on himself. He got up, swore and blustered at Russell, +Duncan, and Williams, and at first flatly refused to allow his desk +to be brought. He was, however, forced to yield, and when opened, +it was immediately seen that the note-paper it contained was +identical with that on which the words had been written. At this he +affected to be perfectly unconcerned, and merely protested against +what he called the meanness of trying to fix the charge on him.</p> +<p>"And what have you been doing the whole of the last day or two," +asked Gibson, quietly, "but endeavoring to fix the charge on +another?"</p> +<p>"We have stronger evidence against you," said Duncan, +confronting him with an undaunted look, before which his insolence +quailed. "Russell, will you call Graham?"</p> +<p>Graham was called, and put on his honor.</p> +<p>"You were in the sick-room on Friday evening?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"Did you see any one get into the school-room through the side +window?"</p> +<p>"I may as well tell you all about it. I was sitting doing +nothing in the sick-room, when I suddenly saw Barker clamber in to +the school-room by the window, which he left open. I was looking on +simply from curiosity, and saw him search Williams' desk, from +which he took out something, I could not make out what. He then +went to his own place, and wrote for about ten minutes, after which +I observed him go up and stand by the notice board. When he had +done this he got out by the window again, and ran off."</p> +<p>"Didn't this strike you as extraordinary?"</p> +<p>"No; I thought nothing more about it, till some one told me in +the sick-room about this row. I then mentioned privately what I had +seen, and it wasn't till I saw Duncan, half an hour ago, that I +thought it worth while to make it generally known."</p> +<p>Duncan turned an enquiring eye to Barker (who sat black and +silent), and then pulled some bits of torn paper from his pocket, +put them together, and called Owen to stand up. Showing him the +fragments of paper, he asked, "Have you ever seen these +before?"</p> +<p>"Yes. On Saturday, when the boys left the schoolroom, I stayed +behind to think a little over what had occurred, feeling convinced +that Williams was <i>not</i> guilty, spite of appearances. I was +standing by the empty fire-place, when these bits of paper caught +my eye. I picked them up, and, after a great deal of trouble, +fitted them together. They are covered apparently with failures in +an attempt at forgery, viz., first, 'Gordon is a sur--' and then a +stop, as though the writer were dissatisfied, and several of the +words written over again for practice, and then a number of r's +made in the way that Williams makes them."</p> +<p>"There you may stop," said Barker, stamping fiercely; "I did it +all."</p> +<p>A perfect yell of scorn and execration followed this +announcement.</p> +<p>"What! <i>you</i> did it, and caused all this misery, you +ineffable blackguard!" shouted Upton, grasping him with one hand, +while he struck him with the other.</p> +<p>"Stop!" said Avonley; "just see that he doesn't escape, while we +decide on his punishment."</p> +<p>It was very soon decided by the sixth form that he should run +the gauntlet of the school. The boys instantly took out their +handkerchiefs, and knotted them tight. They then made a double line +down each side of the corridor, and turned Barker loose. He stood +stock-still at one end, while the fellows nearest him thrashed him +unmercifully with the heavy knots. At last the pain was getting +severe, and he moved on, finally beginning to run. Five times he +was forced up and down the line, and five times did every boy in +the line give him a blow, which, if it did not hurt much, at least +spoke of no slight anger and contempt. He was dogged and unmoved to +the last, and then Avonley hauled him into the presence of Dr. +Rowlands. He was put in a secure room by himself, and the next +morning was first flogged and then publicly expelled. Thenceforth +he disappears from the history of Roslyn school.</p> +<p>I need hardly say that neither Eric nor his friends took any +part in this retributive act. They sat together in the boarders' +room till it was over, engaged in exciting discussion of the recent +event. Most warmly did Eric thank them for their trustfulness. +"Thank you," he said, "with all my heart, for proving my innocence; +but thank you, even more a great deal, for first believing it."</p> +<p>Upton was the first to join them, and since he had but wavered +for a moment, he was soon warmly reconciled with Eric. They had +hardly shaken hands when the rest came flocking in. "We have all +been unjust," said Avonley; "let's make up for it as well as we +can. Three cheers for Eric Williams!"</p> +<p>They gave, not three, but a dozen, till they were tired; and +meanwhile, every one was pressing round him, telling him how sorry +they were for the false suspicion, and doing all they could to show +their regret for his recent troubles. His genial, boyish heart +readily forgave them, and his eyes were long wet with tears of joy. +The delicious sensation of returning esteem made him almost think +it worth while to have under gone his trial.</p> +<p>Most happily did he spend the remainder of that afternoon, and +it was no small relief to all the Rowlandites in the evening to +find themselves finally rid of Barker, whose fate no one pitied, +and whose name no one mentioned without disgust. He had done more +than any other boy to introduce meanness, quarrelling, and vice, +and the very atmosphere of the rooms seemed healthier in his +absence. One boy only forgave him, one boy only prayed for him, one +boy only endeavored to see him for one last kind word. That boy was +Edwin Russell.</p> +<p>After prayers, Mr. Gordon, who had been at Dr. Rowlands' to +dinner, apologised to Eric amply and frankly for his note, and did +and said all that could be done by an honorable man to repair the +injury of an unjust doubt. Eric felt his generous humility, and +from thenceforth, though they were never friends, he and Mr. Gordon +ceased to be enemies.</p> +<p>That night Mr. Rose crowned his happiness by asking him and his +defenders to supper in the library. A most bright and joyous +evening they passed, for they were in the highest spirits; and when +the master bade them "good night," he kindly detained Eric, and +said to him, "Keep an innocent heart, my boy, and you need never +fear trouble. Only think if you had been guilty, and were now in +Barker's place!"</p> +<p>"O, I <i>couldn't</i> be guilty, sir," said Eric, gaily.</p> +<p>"Not of such a fault, perhaps. But," he added solemnly, "there +are many kinds of temptation, Eric many kinds. And they are easy to +fall into. You will find it no light battle to resist them."</p> +<p>"Believe me, sir, I will try," he answered with humility.</p> +<p>"Jehovah-Nissi!" said Mr. Rose. "Let the Lord be your banner, +Eric, and you will win the victory. God bless you."</p> +<p>And as the boy's graceful figure disappeared through the door, +Mr. Rose drew his arm-chair to the fire, and sat and meditated +long. He was imagining for Eric a sunny future--a future of +splendid usefulness, of reciprocated love, of brilliant fame.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<br> +<h3>THE ADVENTURE AT THE STACK</h3> +<blockquote>"Ten cables from where green meadows<br> +And quiet homes could be seen,<br> + No greater space<br> + From peril to peace,<br> +But the savage sea between!"--EDWIN ARNOLD.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>The Easter holidays at Roslyn lasted about ten days, and as most +of the boys came from a distance, they usually spent them at +school. Many of the usual rules were suspended during this time, +and the boys were supplied every day with pocket-money; +consequently the Easter holidays passed very pleasantly, and there +was plenty of fun.</p> +<p>It was the great time for excursions all over the island, and +the boys would often be out the whole day long among the hills, or +about the coast. Eric enjoyed the time particularly, and was in +great request among all the boys. He was now more gay and popular +than ever, and felt as if nothing were wanting to his happiness. +But this brilliant prosperity was not good for him, and he felt +continually that he cared far less for the reproaches of conscience +than he had done in the hours of his trial; sought far less for +help from God than he had done when he was lonely and +neglected.</p> +<p>He always knew that his great safeguard was the affection of +Russell. For Edwin's sake, and for shame at the thought of Edwin's +disapproval, he abstained from many things into which he would +otherwise have insensibly glided in conformation to the general +looseness of the school morality. But Russell's influence worked on +him powerfully, and tended to counteract a multitude of +temptations.</p> +<p>Among other dangerous lessons, Upton had taught Eric to smoke; +and he was now one of those who often spent a part of his holidays +in lurking about with pipes in their mouths at places where they +were unlikely to be disturbed, instead of joining in some hearty +and healthy game. When he began to "learn" smoking, he found it +anything but pleasant; but a little practice had made him an adept, +and he found a certain amount of enjoyable excitement in finding +out cozy places by the river, where he and Upton might go and +lounge for an hour to enjoy the forbidden luxury.</p> +<p>In reality he, like most boys, detested the habit; but it seemed +a fine thing to do, and to some, at any rate, it was a refuge from +vacuity. Besides, they had a confused notion that there was +something "manly" in it, and it derived an additional zest from the +stringency of the rules adopted to put it down. So a number of the +boys smoked, and some few of them to such excess as to get them +into great mischief, and form a habit which they could never +afterwards abandon.</p> +<p>One morning of the Easter holidays, Eric, Montagu, and Russell +started for an excursion down the coast to Rilby Head. As they +passed through Ellan, Eric was deputed to go and buy Easter eggs +and other provisions, as they did not mean to be back for dinner. +In about ten minutes he caught up the other two, just as they were +getting out of the town.</p> +<p>"What an age you've been buying a few Easter eggs," said +Russell, laughing; "have you been waiting till the hens laid?"</p> +<p>"No; they are not the <i>only</i> things I've got."</p> +<p>"Well, but you might have got all the grub at the same +shop."</p> +<p>"Ay; but I've procured a more refined article. Guess what it +is?"</p> +<p>The two boys didn't guess, and Eric said, to enlighten them, +"Will you have a whiff, Monty?"</p> +<p>"A whiff! Oh! I see you've been wasting your tin on +cigars--<i>alias</i>, rolled cabbage-leaves. Oh fumose puer!"</p> +<p>"Well, will you have one?"</p> +<p>"If you like," said Montagu, wavering; "but I don't much care to +smoke."</p> +<p>"Well, <i>I</i> shall, at any rate," said Eric, keeping off the +wind with his cap, as he lighted a cigar, and began to puff.</p> +<p>They strolled on in silence; the smoking didn't promote +conversation, and Russell thought he had never seen his friend look +so ridiculous, and entirely unlike himself, as he did while +strutting along with the weed in his mouth. The fact was, Eric +didn't guess how much he was hurting Edwin's feelings, and he was +smoking more to "make things look like the holidays," by a little +bravado, than anything else. But suddenly he caught the expression +of Russell's face, and instantly said--</p> +<p>"O, I forgot, Edwin; I know you don't like smoking;" and he +instantly flung the cigar over the hedge, being really rather glad +to get rid of it. With the cigar, he seemed to have flung away the +affected manner he displayed just before, and the spirits of all +three rose at once.</p> +<p>"It isn't that I don't <i>like</i> smoking only, Eric, but I +think it wrong--for <i>us</i> I mean."</p> +<p>"O, my dear fellow! surely there can't be any harm in it. Why +everybody smokes."</p> +<p>"It may be all very well for men, although I'm not so sure of +that. But, at any rate, it's wrong and ridiculous in boys. You know +yourself what harm it does in every way."</p> +<p>"O, it's a mere school rule against it. How can it be wrong? +Why, I even know clergymen who smoke."</p> +<p>Montagu laughed. "Well, clergymen ain't immaculate," said he; +"but I never met a man yet who didn't tell you that he was +<i>sorry</i> he'd acquired the habit."</p> +<p>"I'm sure you won't thank that rascally cousin of mine for +having taught you," said Russell; "but seriously, isn't it a very +moping way of spending the afternoon, to go and lie down behind +some hay-stack, or in some frowsy tumble-down barn, as you smokers +do, instead of playing racquets or football?"</p> +<p>"O, it's pleasant enough sometimes," said Eric, speaking rather +against his own convictions.</p> +<p>"As for me, I've nearly left it off," said Montagu, "and I think +Rose convinced me that it was a mistake. Not that he knows that I +ever did smoke; I should be precious sorry if he did, for I know +how he despises it in boys. Were you in school the other day when +he caught Pietrie and Brooking?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>"Well, when Brooking went up to have his exercise corrected, +Rose smelt that he had been smoking, and charged him with it. +Brooking stoutly denied it, but after he had told the most robust +lies, Rose made him empty his pockets, and there, sure enough, were +a pipe and a cigar-case half full! You <i>should</i> have heard how +Rose thundered and lightened at him for his lying, and then sent +him to the Doctor. I never saw him so terrific before."</p> +<p>"You don't mean to say you were convinced it was wrong because +Brooking was caught, and told lies--do you? <i>Non +sequitur</i>."</p> +<p>"Stop--not so fast." Very soon after Rose twigged Pietrie, who +at once confessed, and was caned. I happened to be in the library +when Rose sent for him, and Pietrie said mildly that "he didn't see +the harm of it." Rose smiled in his kind way, and said, "Don't see +the <i>harm</i> of it! Do you see any good in it?"</p> +<p>"No, sir."</p> +<p>"Well, isn't it forbidden?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> +<p>"And doesn't it waste your money?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> +<p>"And tempt you to break rules, and tell lies to screen +yourself?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir," said Pietrie, putting his tail between his legs.</p> +<p>"And don't your parents disapprove it? And doesn't it throw you +among some of the worst boys, and get you into great troubles? +Silly child," he said, pulling Pietrie's ear (as he sometimes does, +you know), "don't talk nonsense; and remember next time you're +caught I shall have you punished." So off went Pietrie, [Greek: +achreian idon] as our friend Homer says. And your humble servant +was convinced."</p> +<p>"Well, well," said Eric laughing, "I suppose you're right. At +any rate, I give in. Two to one ain't fair; [Greek: ards duo o +Aerachlaes], since you're in a quoting humor."</p> +<p>Talking in this way they got to Rilby Head, where they found +plenty to amuse them. It was a splendid headland, rising bluff four +hundred feet out of the sea, and presenting magnificent reaches of +rock scenery on all sides. The boys lay on the turf at the summit, +and flung innocuous stones at the sea-gulls as they sailed far +below them over the water, and every now and then pounced at some +stray fish that came to the surface; or they watched the stately +barks as they sailed by on the horizon, wondering at their cargo +and destination; or chaffed the fishermen, whose boats heaved on +the waves at the foot of the promontory. When they were rested, +they visited a copper-mine by the side of the head, and filled +their pockets with bits of bright quartz or red shining spar, which +they found in plenty among the rocks.</p> +<p>In the afternoon they strolled towards home, determining to stop +a little at the Stack on their way. The Stack formed one of the +extremities of Ellan Bay, and was a huge mass of isolated schist, +accessible at low water, but entirely surrounded at high tide. It +was a very favorite resort of Eric's, as the coast all about it was +bold and romantic; and he often went there with Russell on a Sunday +evening to watch the long line of golden radiance slanting to them +over the water from the setting sun--a sight which they often +agreed to consider one of the most peaceful and mysteriously +beautiful in nature.</p> +<p>They reached the Stack, and began to climb to its summit. The +sun was just preparing to set, and the west was gorgeous with red +and gold.</p> +<p>"We shan't see the line on the waters this evening," said Eric; +"there's too much of a breeze. But look, what a glorious +sunset!"</p> +<p>"Yes; it'll be stormy tomorrow," answered Russell, "but come +along, let's get to the top; the wind's rising, and the waves will +be rather grand."</p> +<p>"Ay, we'll sit and watch them; and let's finish our grub; I've +got several eggs left, and I want to get them out of my +pocket."</p> +<p>They devoured the eggs, and then stood enjoying the sight of the +waves, which sometimes climbed up the rock almost to their feet, +and then fell back, hissing and discomfited. Suddenly they +remembered that it was getting late, and that they ought to get +home for tea at seven.</p> +<p>"Hallo!" said Russell, looking at his watch, "it's half-past +six. We must cut back as hard as we can. By the bye, I hope the +tide hasn't been coming in all this time."</p> +<p>"Good God!" said Montagu, with a violent start, "I'm afraid it +has, though! What asses we have been, with our waves and sunsets. +Let's set off as hard as we can pelt."</p> +<p>Immediately they scrambled, by the aid of hands and knees, down +the Stack, and made their way for the belt of rock which joined it +to the mainland; but, to their horror, they at once saw that the +tide had come in, and that a narrow gulf of sea already divided +them from the shore.</p> +<p>"There's only one way for it," said Eric; "if we're plucky we +can jump that; but we musn't wait till it gets worse. A good jump +will take us <i>nearly</i> to the other side--far enough, at any +rate, to let us flounder across somehow."</p> +<p>As fast as they could they hurried along down to the place where +the momentarily increasing zone of water seemed as yet to be +narrowest; and where the rocks on the other side were lower than +those on which they stood. Their situation was by no means +pleasant. The wind had been rising more and more, and the waves +dashed into this little channel with such violence, that to swim it +would have been a most hazardous experiment, particularly as they +could not dive in from the ledge on which they stood, from their +ignorance of the depth of water.</p> +<p>Eric's courage supported the other two. "There's no good +<i>thinking</i> about it," said he, "jump we <i>must</i>; the +sooner the better. We can but be a little hurt at the worst. Here, +I'll set the example."</p> +<p>He drew back a step or two, and sprang out with all his force. +He was a practised and agile jumper, and, to their great relief, he +alighted near the water's edge, on the other side, where, after +slipping once or twice on the wet and seaweed-covered rocks, he +effected a safe landing, with no worse harm than a wetting up to +the knees.</p> +<p>"Now then, you too," he shouted; "no time to lose."</p> +<p>"Will you jump first, Monty?" said Russell; "both of you are +better jumpers than I, and to tell the truth I'm rather +afraid."</p> +<p>"Then I won't leave you," said Montagu; "we'll both stay +here."</p> +<p>"And perhaps be drowned or starved for our pains No, Monty, +<i>you</i> can clear it, I've no doubt."</p> +<p>"Couldn't we try to swim it together, Edwin?"</p> +<p>"Madness! look there." And as he spoke, a huge furious wave +swept down the whole length of the gulf by which they stood, +roaring and surging along till the whole water seethed, and tearing +the seaweeds from their roots in the rock.</p> +<p>"Now's your time," shouted Eric again. "What <i>are</i> you +waiting for? For God's sake, jump before another wave comes."</p> +<p>"Monty, you <i>must</i> jump now," said Russell, "if only to +help me when I try."</p> +<p>Montagu went back as far as he could, which was only a few +steps, and leapt wildly forward. He lighted into deep water, nearly +up to his neck, and at first tried in vain to secure a footing on +the sharp slippery schist; but he stumbled forwards vigorously, and +in half a minute, Eric leaning out as far as he could, caught his +hand, and just pulled him to the other side in time to escape +another rush of tumultuous and angry foam.</p> +<p>"Now, Edwin," they both shouted, "it'll be too late in another +minute. Jump for your life."</p> +<p>Russell stood on the rock pale and irresolute. Once or twice he +prepared to spring, and stopped from fear at the critical instant. +In truth, the leap was now most formidable; to clear it was +hopeless; and the fury of the rock-tormented waves rendered the +prospect of a swim on the other side terrible to contemplate. Once +in the grasp of one of those billows, even a strong man must have +been carried out of the narrow channel, and hurled against the +towering sweep of rocks which lay beyond it.</p> +<p>"Oh Edwin, Edwin--dear Edwin--<i>do</i> jump," cried Eric with +passionate excitement. "We will rush in for you."</p> +<p>Russell now seemed to have determined on running the risk; he +stepped back, ran to the edge, missed his footing, and with a sharp +cry of pain, fell heavily forward into the water. For an instant, +Eric and Montagu stood breathless,--but the next instant, they saw +Russell's head emerge, and then another wave foaming madly by, made +them run backwards for their lives, and hid him from their view. +When it had passed, they saw him clinging with both hands, in the +desperate instinct of self-preservation, to a projecting bit of +rock, by the aid of which he gradually drew himself out of the +water, and grasping at crevices or bits of seaweed, slowly and +painfully reached the ledge on which they had stood before they +took the leap. He presented a pitiable spectacle; his face, pale as +death, was dabbled with blood; his head drooped on his breast; his +clothes were torn, and streamed with the salt water; his cap was +gone, and the wet hair, which he seemed too exhausted to push +aside, hung over his forehead and eyes. He was evidently dizzy, and +in pain; and they noticed that he only seemed to use one foot.</p> +<p>While he was regaining the ledge, neither of the boys spoke, +lest their voices should startle him, and make him fall; but now, +they both cried out, "Are you hurt, Edwin?"</p> +<p>He did not answer, but supported his pale face on one hand, +while he put the other to his head, from which the blood was +flowing fast.</p> +<p>"O Edwin, for the love of God, try once more," said Montagu; +"you will die if you spend the night on that rock."</p> +<p>They could not catch the reply, and called again. The wind and +waves were both rising fast, and it was only by listening intently, +that they caught the faint words, "I can't, my leg is hurt." +Besides, they both saw that a jump was no longer possible; the +channel was more than double the width which it had been when Eric +leaped, and from the rapid ascent of rocks on both sides, it was +now far out of depth.</p> +<p>"O God, what can we do," said Montagu, bursting into tears. "We +can never save him; and all but the very top of the Stack is +covered at high tide."</p> +<p>Eric had not lost his presence of mind. "Cheer up, Edwin," he +shouted; "I <i>will</i> get back to you somehow. If I fail, crawl +up to the top again."</p> +<p>Again the wind carried away the reply, and Russell had sunk back +on the rock.</p> +<p>"Monty," said Eric, "just watch for a minute or two. When I have +got across, run to Ellan as hard as you can tear, and tell them +that we are cut off by the tide on the Stack. They'll bring round +the life-boat. It's our only chance."</p> +<p>"What are you going to do?" asked Montagu, terrified. "Why, +Eric, it's death to attempt swimming that. Heavens!" And he drew +Eric back hastily, as another vast swell of water came rolling +along, shaking its white curled mane, like a sea-monster bent on +destruction.</p> +<p>"Monty, it's no use," said Eric hastily, tearing off his jacket +and waistcoat; "I'm not going to let Russell die on that ledge of +rock. I shall try to reach him, whatever happens to me. Here; I +want to keep these things dry. Be on the look out; if I get across, +fling them over to me if you can, and then do as I told you."</p> +<p>He turned round; the wave had just spent its fury, and knowing +that his only chance was to swim over before another came, he +plunged in, and struck out like a man. He was a strong and expert +swimmer, and as yet the channel was not more than a dozen yards +across. He dashed over with the speed and strength of despair, and +had just time to clutch the rocks on the other side before the next +mighty swirl of the tide swept up in its white and tormented +course. In another minute he was on the ledge by Russell's +side.</p> +<p>He took him tenderly in his arms, and called to Montagu for the +dry clothes. Montagu tied them skilfully with his neck-handkerchief +round a fragment of rock, adding his own jacket to the bundle, and +then flung it over. Eric wrapped up his friend in the clothes, and +once more shouted to Montagu to go on his errand. For a short time +the boy lingered, reluctant to leave them, and then started off at +the run. Looking back after a few minutes, he caught, through the +gathering dusk, his last glimpse of the friends in their perilous +situation. Eric was seated supporting Russell across his knees; +when he saw Montagu turn he waved his cap over his head as a signal +of encouragement, and then began to carry Edwin higher up the rock +for safety. It soon grew too dark to distinguish them, and Montagu +at full speed flew to Ellan, which was a mile off. When he got to +the harbor he told some sailors of the danger in which his friends +were, and then ran on to the school. It was now eight o'clock, and +quite dark. Tea was over, and lock-up time long past, when he stood +excited, breathless, and without his jacket, at Dr. Rowlands' +door.</p> +<p>"Good gracious! Master Montagu," said the servant; "what's the +matter; have you been robbed?"</p> +<p>He pushed the girl aside, and ran straight to Dr. Rowlands' +study. "O sir!" he exclaimed, bursting in, "Williams and Russell +are on the Stack, cut off by the tide."</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands started up hastily. "What! on this stormy night? +Have you raised the alarm?"</p> +<p>"I told the life-boat people, sir, and then ran on."</p> +<p>"I will set off myself at once," said the Doctor, seizing his +hat. "But, my poor boy, how pale and ill you look, and you are wet +through too. You had better change your clothes at once, or go to +bed."</p> +<p>"O no, sir," said Montagu, pleadingly; "do take me with +you."</p> +<p>"Very well; but you must change first, or you may suffer in +consequence. Make haste, and directly you are dressed, a cup of tea +shall be ready for you down here, and we will start."</p> +<p>Montagu was off in an instant, and only stopped on his way to +tell Duncan and the others of the danger which threatened their +companions. The absence of the three boys from tea and lock-up had +already excited general surmise, and Montagu's appearance, +jacketless and wet, at the door of the boarders' room, at once +attracted a group round him. He rapidly told them how things stood, +and, hastening off, left them nearly as much agitated as himself. +In a very short time he presented himself again before Dr. +Rowlands, and when he had swallowed with difficulty the cup of tea, +they sallied out.</p> +<p>It was pitch dark, and only one or two stars were seen at +intervals struggling through the ragged masses of cloud. The wind +howled in fitful gusts, and as their road led by the sea-side, +Montagu shuddered to hear how rough and turbulent the sea was, even +on the sands. He stumbled once or twice, and then the Doctor kindly +drew his trembling arm through his own, and made him describe the +whole occurrence, while the servant went on in front with the +lantern. When Montagu told how Williams had braved the danger of +reaching his friend at the risk of his life, Dr. Rowlands' +admiration was unbounded. "Noble boy," he exclaimed, with +enthusiasm; "I shall find it hard to believe any evil of him after +this."</p> +<p>They reached Ellan, and went to the boat-house.</p> +<p>"Have you put out the life-boat?" said Dr. Rowlands +anxiously.</p> +<p>"Ill luck, sir," said one of the sailors, touching his cap; "the +life-boat went to a wreck at Port Vash two days ago, and she hasn't +been brought round again yet."</p> +<p>"Indeed! but I do trust you have sent out another boat to try +and save those poor boys."</p> +<p>"We've been trying, sir, and a boat has just managed to start; +but in a sea like that it's very dangerous, and it's so dark and +gusty that I doubt it's no use, so I expect they'll put back."</p> +<p>The Doctor sighed deeply. "Don't alarm any other people," he +said; "it will merely raise a crowd to no purpose. Here, George," +he continued to the servant, "give me the lantern; I will go with +this boy to the Stack; you follow us with ropes, and order a +carriage from the King's Head. Take care to bring anything with you +that seems likely to be useful."</p> +<p>Montagu and Dr. Rowlands again started, and with difficulty made +their way through the storm to the shore opposite the Stack. Here +they raised the lantern and shouted; but the wind was now screaming +with such violence that they were not sure that they heard any +answering shout. Their eyes, accustomed to the darkness, could just +make out the huge black outline of the Stack rising from the yeast +of boiling waves, and enveloped every moment in blinding sheets of +spray. On the top of it Montagu half thought that he saw something, +but he was not sure.</p> +<p>"Thank God, there is yet hope," said the Doctor, with difficulty +making his young companion catch his words amid the uproar of the +elements; "if they can but keep warm in their wet clothes, we may +perhaps rescue them before morning."</p> +<p>Again he shouted to cheer them with his strong voice, and +Montagu joined his clear ringing tones to the shout. This time they +fancied that in one of the pauses of the wind they heard a faint +cheer returned, was sound more welcome, and as they paced up and +down they shouted at intervals, and held up the lantern, to show +the boys that friends and help were near.</p> +<p>Eric heard them. When Montagu left, he had carried Russell to +the highest point of the rock, and there, with gentle hands and +soothing words, made him as comfortable as he could. He wrapped him +in every piece of dry clothing he could find, and held him in his +arms, heedless of the blood which covered him. Very faintly Russell +thanked him, and pressed his hand; but he moaned in pain +continually, and at last fainted away.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the wind rose higher, and the tide gained on the +rocks, and the sacred darkness came down. At first Eric could think +of nothing but storm and sea. Cold, and cruel, and remorseless, the +sea beat up, drenching them to the skin continually with, its +clammy spray; and the storm shrieked round them pitilessly, and +flung about the wet hair on Eric's bare head, and forced him to +plant himself firmly, lest the rage of the gusts should hurl them +from their narrow resting-place. The darkness made everything more +fearful, for his eyes could distinguish nothing but the gulfs of +black water glistening here and there with hissing foam, and he +shuddered as his ears caught the unearthly noises that came to him +in the mingled scream of weltering tempest and plangent wave. It +was fearful to be isolated on the black rent rock, and see the +waves gaining on them higher, higher, higher, every moment and he +was in ceaseless terror lest they should be swept away by the +violence of the breakers. "At least," thought he, as he looked down +and saw that the ledge on which they had been standing had long +been covered with deep and agitated waves, "at least I have saved +Edwin's life." And he bravely made up his mind to keep up heart and +hope, and weather the comfortless night with Russell in his +arms.</p> +<p>And then his thoughts turned to Russell, who was still +unconscious; and stooping down he kissed fondly the pale white +forehead of his friend. He felt <i>then</i>, how deeply he loved +him, how much he owed him; and no mother could have nursed a child +more tenderly than he did the fainting boy. Russell's head rested +on his breast, and the soft hair, tangled with welling blood, +stained his clothes. Eric feared that he would die, his +fainting-fit continued so long, and from the helpless way in which +one of his legs trailed on the ground he felt sure that he had +received some dangerous hurt.</p> +<p>At last Russell stirred and groaned. "Where am I?" he said, and +half opened his eyes; he started up frightened, and fell-back +heavily. He saw only the darkness; felt only the fierce wind and +salt mist; heard only the relentless yell of the blast. Memory had +no time to wake, and he screamed and fainted once more.</p> +<p>Poor Eric knew not what to do but to shelter him to the best of +his power, and when he showed any signs of consciousness again, he +bent over him, and said, "Don't you remember, Edwin? We're quite +safe. I'm with you, and Monty's gone for help."</p> +<p>"Oh! I daren't jump," sobbed Russell; "oh mother, I shall be +drowned. Save me! save me! I'm so glad they're safe, mother; but my +leg hurts so." And he moaned again. He was delirious.</p> +<p>"How cold it is, and wet too! where's Eric? are we bathing? run +along, we shall be late. But stop, you're smoking. Dear Eric, don't +smoke. Poor fellow, I'm afraid he's getting spoilt, and learning +bad ways. Oh save him." And as he wandered on, he repeated a prayer +for Eric, which evidently had been often on his lips.</p> +<p>Eric was touched to the heart's core, and in one rapid +lightning-like glance, his memory revealed to him the faultful +past, in all its sorrowfulness. And <i>he</i>, too, prayed wildly +for help both for soul and body. Alone on the crag, with the sea +tumbling and plashing round them, growing and gaining so much on +their place of refuge, that his terror began to summon up the image +of certain death; alone, wet, hungry, and exhausted, with the +wounded and delirious boy, whose life depended on his courage, he +prayed as he had never prayed before, and seemed to grow calmer by +his prayer, and to feel God nearer him than ever he had done in the +green cricket-field, or the safe dormitories of Roslyn school.</p> +<p>A shout startled him. Lights on the water heaved up and down, +now disappearing, and now lifted high, and at intervals there came +the sound of voices. Thank God! help was near; they were coming in +a boat to save them.</p> +<p>But the lights grew more distant; he saw then disappearing +towards the harbor. Yes! it was of no use; no boat could live in +the surf at the foot of the Stack cliffs, and the sailors had given +it up in despair. His heart sank again, all the more for the +glimpse of hope, and his strength began to give way. Russell's +delirium continued, and he grew too frightened even to pray.</p> +<p>A light from the land. The sound of shouts--yes, he could be +sure of it; it was Dr. Rowlands' voice and Montagu's. He got +convinced of this, and summoned all his strength to shout in +return. The light kept moving up and down on the shore, not a +hundred yards off. His fear vanished; they were no longer alone. +The first moment that the tide suffered any one to reach them they +would be rescued. His mind grew calm again, and he determined to +hold up for Russell's sake until help should come; and every now +and then, to make it feel less lonely, he answered the shouts which +came from the friendly voices in the fitful pauses of the +storm.</p> +<p>But Dr. Rowlands and Montagu paced up and down, and the master +soothed the boy's fears, and talked to him so kindly, so gently, +that Montagu began to wonder if this really could be the awful +head-master, whose warm strong hand he was grasping, and who was +comforting him as a father might. What a depth of genuine human +kindness that stern exterior concealed! And every now and then, +when the storm blew loudest, the Doctor would stand still for a +moment, and offer up a short intense prayer, or ejaculation, that +help and safety might come to his beloved charge in their exposure +and peril.</p> +<p>Six or seven hours passed away; at last the wind began to sink, +and the sea to be less violent. The tide was on the turn. The +carriage drove up with, more men and lights, and the thoughtful +servant brought with him the school surgeon, Dr. Underhay. Long and +anxiously did they watch the ebbing tide, and when it had gone out +sufficiently to allow of two stout planks being laid across the +channel, an active sailor ventured over with a light, and in a few +moments stood by Eric's side. Eric saw him coming, but was too weak +and numb to move; and when the sailor lifted up the unconscious +Russell from his knees, Eric was too much exhausted even to speak. +The man returned for him, and lifting him on his back crossed the +plank once more in safety, and carried them both to the carriage, +where Dr. Underhay had taken care to have everything likely to +revive and sustain them. They were driven rapidly to the school, +and the Doctor raised to God tearful eyes of gratitude as the boys +were taken to the rooms prepared for them. Mrs. Rowlands was +anxiously awaiting their arrival, and the noise of wheels was the +signal for twenty heads to be put through the dormitory windows, +with many an anxious inquiry, "Are they safe?"</p> +<p>"Yes, thank God!" called Dr. Rowlands; "so now, boys, shut the +windows, and get to sleep."</p> +<p>Russell was carefully undressed, and put to bed in the Doctor's +own house, and the wound in his head was dressed. Eric and Montagu +had beds provided them in another room by themselves, away from the +dormitory: the room was bright and cheerful, with a blazing fire, +and looked like home and when the two boys had drank some warm +wine, and cried for weariness and joy, they sank to sleep after +their dangers and fatigues, and slept the deep, calm, dreamless +sleep of tired children.</p> +<p>So ended the perilous adventure of that eventful night of the +Easter holidays.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<br> +<h3>THE SILVER CORD BROKEN</h3> +<blockquote>"Calm on the bosom of thy God,<br> + Fair spirit, rest thee now!<br> +E'en while with us thy footsteps trod,<br> + His seal was on thy brow."--MRS. HEMANS.</blockquote> +<p>They did not awake till noon. Montagu opened his eyes, and at +first could not collect his thoughts, as he saw the carpeted little +room, the bright fire, and the housekeeper seated in her arm-chair +before it. But turning his head, he caught a glimpse of Eric, who +was still asleep, and he then remembered all. He sprang out of bed, +refreshed and perfectly well, and the sound of his voice woke Eric; +but Eric was still languid and weak, and did not get up that day, +nor was he able to go to work again for some days; but he was young +and strong, and his vigorous constitution soon threw off the +effects of his fast and exposure.</p> +<p>Their first inquiry was for Edwin. The nurse shook her head +sadly. "He is very dangerously ill."</p> +<p>"Is he?" said they both, anxiously. And then they preserved a +deep silence; and when Montagu, who immediately began to dress, +knelt down to say his prayers, Eric, though unable to get up, knelt +also over his pillow, and the two felt that their young earnest +prayers were mingling for the one who seemed to have been taken +while they were left.</p> +<p>The reports grew darker and darker about Edwin, At first it was +thought that the blow on his head was dangerous, and that the +exposure to wet, cold, fear, and hunger, had permanently weakened +his constitution; and when his youth seemed to be triumphing over +these dangers, another became more threatening. His leg never +mended; he had both sprained the knee badly, and given the tibia an +awkward twist, so that the least motion was agony to him.</p> +<p>In his fever he was constantly delirious. No one was allowed to +see him, though many of the boys tried to do so, and many were the +earnest inquiries for him day by day. It then became more fully +apparent than ever, that, although Edwin was among them without +being <i>of</i> them, no boy in the school was more deeply honored +and fondly loved than he. Even the elastic spirits of boyhood could +not quite throw off the shadow of gloom which his illness cast over +the school.</p> +<p>Very tenderly they nursed him. All that human kindness could do +was done for him by the stranger hands. And yet not all; poor Edwin +had no father, no mother, hardly any relatives. His only aunt, Mrs. +Upton, would have come to nurse him, but she was an invalid, and he +was often left alone in his delirium and agony.</p> +<p>Alone, yet not alone. There was One with him--always in his +thoughts, always leading, guiding, blessing him unseen--not +deserting the hurt lamb of his flock; one who was once a boy +himself, and who, when he was a boy, did his Father's business, and +was subject unto his parents in the obscure home of the despised +village. Alone! nay, to them whose eyes were opened, the room of +sickness and pain was thronged and beautiful with angelic +presences.</p> +<p>Often did Eric, and Upton, and Montagu, talk of their loved +friend. Eric's life seemed absorbed in the thought of him, and in +passionate, unspeakable longings for his recovery. Now he valued +more than ever the sweet remembered hours spent with him; their +games, and communnings, and walks, and Russell's gentle influence, +and brave, kindly rebukes. Yet he must not even see him, must not +whisper one word of soothing to him in his anguish; he could only +pray for him, and that he did with a depth of hope.</p> +<p>At last Upton, in virtue of his relationship, was allowed to +visit him. His delirium had become more infrequent, but he could +not yet even recognise his cousin, and the visits to his sick-room +were so sad and useless, that Upton forbore. "And yet you should +hear him talk in his delirium," he said to Eric; "not one evil +word, or bad thought, or wicked thing, ever escapes him. I'm +afraid, Eric, it would hardly be so with you or me."</p> +<p>"No" said Eric, in a low and humble tone; and guilty conscience +brought the deep color, wave after wave, of crimson into his +cheeks.</p> +<p>"And he talks with such affection of you, Eric. He speaks +sometimes of all of us very gently; but you seem to be always in +his thoughts, and every now and then he prays for you quite +unconsciously."</p> +<p>Eric turned his head to brush away a tear. "When do you think I +shall be allowed too see him?"</p> +<p>"Not just yet, I fear."</p> +<p>After a week or two of most anxious suspense, Russell's mind +ceased to wander, but the state of his sprain gave more cause for +alarm. Fresh advice was called in, and it was decided that the leg +must be amputated.</p> +<p>When Eric was told of this, he burst into passionate complaints. +"Only think, Monty, isn't it hard, isn't it cruel? When we see our +brave, bright Edwin again, he will be a cripple." Eric hardly +understood that he was railing at the providence of a merciful +God.</p> +<p>The day for the operation came. When it was over, poor Russell +seemed to amend, and the removal of the perpetual pain gave him +relief. They were all deeply moved at his touching resignation; no +murmur, no cry escaped him; no words but the sweetest thanks for +every little office of kindness done to him. A few days after, he +asked Dr. Underhay "if he might see Eric?"</p> +<p>"Yes, my boy," said the doctor kindly, "you may see him, and one +or two other of your particular friends if you like, provided you +don't excite yourself too much. I trust you will get better +now."</p> +<p>So Eric and Montagu were told by Dr. Rowlands that at six they +might go and see their friend. "Be sure," he added, "that you don't +startle or excite him."</p> +<p>They promised, and after school on that beautiful evening of +early summer they went to the sick-room door Stopping, they held +their breath, and knocked very gently. Yes! it was the well-known +voice which gave the answer, but it was faint and low. Full of awe, +they softly opened the door, which admitted them into the presence +of the dear companion whom they had not seen for so long. Since +then it seemed as though gulfs far deeper than the sea had been +flowing between him and them.</p> +<p>Full of awe, and hand in hand, they entered the room on +tiptoe--the darkened room where Russell was What a hush and +oppression there seemed to them at first in the dim, silent +chamber; what an awfulness in all the appliances which showed how +long and deeply their schoolfellow had suffered. But all this +vanished directly they caught sight of his face. There he lay, so +calm, and weak, and still, with his bright, earnest eyes turned +towards them, as though to see whether any of their affection for +him had ceased or been forgotten!</p> +<p>In an instant they were kneeling in silence by the bed with +bowed foreheads; and the sick boy tenderly put his hands on their +heads, and pushed the frail white fingers through their hair, and +looked at them tearfully without a word, till they hid their faces +with their hands, and broke into deep suppressed sobs of +compassion.</p> +<p>"Oh hush, hush!" he said, as he felt their tears dropping on his +hands while they kissed him. "Dear Eric, dear Monty, why should you +cry so for me? I am very happy."</p> +<p>But they caught the outline of his form as he lay on the bed, +and had now for the first time realized that he was a cripple for +life; and as the throng of memories came on them--memories of his +skill and fame at cricket, and racquets, and football--of their +sunny bathes together in sea and river, and all their happy holiday +wanderings--they could not restrain their emotion, and wept +uncontrollably. Neither of them could speak a word, or break the +holy silence; and as he patted their heads and cheeks, his own +tears flowed fast in sympathy and self-pity. But he felt the +comforting affection which they could not utter; he felt it in his +loneliness, and it did him good.</p> +<p>The nurse broke in upon the scene, which she feared would +agitate Edwin too much; and with red eyes and heavy hearts the boys +left, only whispering, "We will come again to-morrow, Edwin!"</p> +<p>They came the next day, and many days, and got to talk quite +cheerfully with him, and read to him. They loved this occupation +more than any game, and devoted themselves to it. The sorrow of the +sick-room more than repaid them for the glad life without, when +they heard Russell's simple and heartfelt thanks. "Ah! how good of +you, dear fellows," he would say, "to give up the merry playground +for a wretched cripple," and he would smile cheerfully to show that +his trial had not made him weary of life. Indeed, he often told +them that he believed they felt for him more than he did +himself.</p> +<p>One day Eric brought him a little bunch of primroses and +violets. He seemed much better, and Eric's spirits were high with +the thoughts and hopes of the coming holidays. "There, Edwin," he +said, as the boy gratefully and eagerly took the flowers, "don't +they make you glad? They are one of our <i>three</i> signs, you +know, of the approaching holidays. One sign was the first sight of +the summer steamer going across the bay; another was May eve, when +these island-fellows light big gorse fires all over the mountains, +and throw yellow marsh-lilies at their doors to keep off the +fairies. Do you remember, Eddy, gathering some last May eve, and +sitting out in the playground till sunset, watching the fires begin +to twinkle on Cronck-Irey and Barrule for miles away? What a jolly +talk we had that evening about the holidays; but my father and +mother were here then, you know, and we were all going to Fairholm. +But the third sign--the first primrose and violet--was always the +happiest. You can't think how I <i>grabbed</i> at the first +primrose this year; I found it by a cave on the Ness. And though +these are rather the last than the first, yet I knew you'd like +them, Eddy, so I hunted for them everywhere. And how much better +you're looking too; such shining eyes, and, yes! I positively +declare, quite a ruddy cheek like your old one. You'll soon be out +among us again, that's clear----"</p> +<p>He stopped abruptly: he had been rattling on just in the merry +way that Russell now most loved to hear, but, as he was talking, he +caught the touch of sadness on Russell's face, and saw his long, +abstracted, eager look at the flowers.</p> +<p>"Dear fellow, you're not worse, are you?" he said quickly. "What +a fool I am to chatter so; it makes you ill."</p> +<p>"No, no, Eric, talk on; you can't think how I love to hear you. +Oh, how very beautiful these primroses are! Thank you, thank you, +for bringing them." And he again fixed on them the eager dreamy +look which had startled Eric--as though he were learning their +color and shape by heart.</p> +<p>"I wish I hadn't brought them, though," said Eric, "they are +filling your mind with regrets. But, Eddy, you'll be well by the +holidays--a month hence, you know--or else I shouldn't have talked +so gladly about them."</p> +<p>"No, Eric," said Russell sadly, "these dear flowers are the last +spring blossoms that I shall see--<i>here</i> at least. Yes, I will +keep them, for your sake, Eric, till I die."</p> +<p>"Oh don't talk so," said Eric, shocked and flustered, "why +everybody knows and says that you're getting better."</p> +<p>Russell smiled and shook his head. "No, Eric, I shall die. There +stop, dear fellow, don't cry," said he, raising his hands quietly +to Eric's face; "isn't it better for me so? I own it seemed sad at +first to leave this bright world and the sea--yes, even that cruel +sea," he continued smiling; "and to leave Roslyn, and Upton, and +Monty, and, above all, to leave <i>you</i>, Eric, whom I love best +in all the world. Yes, remember I've no home, Eric, and no +prospects. There was nothing to be sorry for in this, so long as +God gave me health and strength; but health went for ever into +those waves at the Stack, where you saved my life, dear, gallant +Eric; and what could I do now? It doesn't look so happy to +<i>halt</i> through life. Oh Eric, Eric, I am young, but I am +dying--dying, Eric," he said solemnly, "my brother; let me call you +brother; I have no near relations, you know, to fill up the love in +my yearning heart, but I <i>do</i> love <i>you</i>. Kiss me, Eric, +as though I were a child, and you a child. There, that comforts me; +I feel as if I <i>were</i> a child again, and had a dear +brother;--and I <i>shall</i> be a child again soon, Eric, in the +courts of a Father's house."</p> +<p>Eric could not speak. These words startled him; he never dreamt +<i>recently</i> of Russell's death, but had begun to reckon on his +recovery, and now life seemed darker to him than ever.</p> +<p>But Russell was pressing the flowers to his lips. "The grass +withereth," he murmured, "the flower fadeth, and the glory of its +beauty perisheth; but--<i>but</i> the word of the Lord endureth for +ever." And here he too burst into natural tears, and Eric pressed +his hand, with more than a brother's fondness, to his heart.</p> +<p>"Oh Eddy, Eddy, my heart is full," he said, "too full to speak +to you. Let me read to you;" and with Russell's arm round his neck +he sat down, beside his pillow, and read to him about "the pure +river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the +throne of God and of the Lamb." At first sobs choked his voice, but +it gathered firmness as he went on.</p> +<p>"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the +river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of +fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the +tree were for the healing of the nations.</p> +<p>"And there shall be no more curse"--and here the reader's +musical voice rose into deeper and steadier sweetness--"but the +throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants +shall serve him; and they shall see his face; and his name shall be +in their foreheads."</p> +<p>"And they shall see his face," murmured Russell, "<i>and they +shall see his face</i>" Eric paused and looked at him; a sort of +rapture seemed to be lighted in his eyes, as though they saw +heavenly things, and his countenance was like an angel's to look +upon. Eric closed the book reverently, and gazed.</p> +<p>"And now pray for me, Eric, will you?" Eric knelt down, but no +prayer would come; his breast swelled; and his heart beat fast, but +emotion prevented him from uttering a word. But Russell laid his +hand on his head and prayed.</p> +<p>"O gracious Lord God, look down, merciful Father on us, two +erring, weak, sinful boys; look down and bless us, Lord, for the +love thou bearest unto thy children. One thou art taking; Lord, +take me to the green pastures of thy home, where no curse is; and +one remains--O Lord! bless him with the dew of thy blessing; lead +and guide him, and keep him for ever in thy fear and love, that he +may continue thine for ever, and hereafter we may meet together +among the redeemed, in the immortal glory of the resurrection. Hear +us, O Father, for thy dear Son's sake. Amen! Amen!"</p> +<p>The childlike, holy, reverent voice ceased, and Eric rose. One +long brotherly kiss he printed on Russell's forehead, and, full of +sorrowful forebodings, bade him good night.</p> +<p>He asked Dr. Underhay whether his fears were correct. "Yes," he +said, "he may die at any time; he <i>must</i> die soon. It is even +best that he should; besides the loss of a limb, that blow on the +head would certainly affect the brain and the intellect if he +lived."</p> +<p>Eric shuddered--a long cold shudder.</p> +<p>The holidays drew on; for Russell's sake, and at his earnest +wish, Eric had worked harder than he ever did before. All his +brilliant abilities, all his boyish ambition, were called into +exercise; and, to the delight of every one, he gained ground +rapidly, and seemed likely once more to dispute the palm with Owen. +No one rejoiced more in this than Mr. Rose, and he often gladdened +Russell's heart by telling him about it; for every day he had a +long visit to the sick boy's room, which refreshed and comforted +them both.</p> +<p>In other respects, too, Eric seemed to be turning over a new +leaf. He and Upton, by common consent, had laid aside smoking, and +every bad habit or disobedient custom which would have grieved the +dying boy, whom they both loved so well. And although Eric's +popularity, after the romantic Stack adventure and his chivalrous +daring, was at its very zenith,--although he had received a medal +and flattering letter from the Humane Society, who had been +informed of the transaction by Dr. Rowlands,--although his success +both physical and intellectual was higher than ever,--yet the dread +of the great loss he was doomed to suffer, and the friendship which +was to be snapped, overpowered every other feeling, and his heart +was ennobled and purified by contact with his suffering friend.</p> +<p>It was a June evening, and he and Russell were alone; he had +drawn up the blind, and through the open window the summer breeze, +pure from the sea and fragrant from the garden, was blowing +refreshfully into the sick boy's room. Russell was very, very +happy. No doubt, no fear, assailed him; all was peace and +trustfulness. Long and earnestly that evening did he talk to Eric, +and implore him to shun evil ways, striving to lead him gently to +that love of God which was his only support and refuge now. +Tearfully and humbly Eric listened, and every now and then the +sufferer stopped to pray aloud.</p> +<p>"Good night, Eric," he said, "I am tired, <i>so</i> tired. I +hope we shall meet again; I shall give you my desk and all my +books, Eric, except a few for Horace, Owen, Duncan, and Monty. And +my watch, that dear watch your mother, <i>my</i> mother, gave me, I +shall leave to Rose as a remembrance of us both. Good night, +brother."</p> +<p>A little before ten that night Eric was again summoned with +Upton and Montagu to Russell's bedside. He was sinking fast; and as +he had but a short time to live, he expressed a desire to see them, +though he could see no others.</p> +<p>They came, and were amazed to see how bright the dying boy +looked. They received his last farewells--he would die that night. +Sweetly he blessed them, and made them promise to avoid all evil, +and read the Bible, and pray to God. But he had only strength to +speak at intervals. Mr. Rose, too, was there; it seemed as though +he held the boy by the hand, as fearlessly now, yea, joyously, he +entered the waters of the dark river.</p> +<p>"Oh, I should <i>so</i> like to stay with you, Monty, Horace, +dear, dear Eric, but God calls me. I am going--a long way--to my +father and mother--and to the light. I shall not be a cripple +there--nor be in pain." His words grew slow and difficult. "God +bless you, dear fellows; God bless you, dear Eric; I am going--to +God."</p> +<p>He sighed very gently; there was a slight sound in his throat, +and he was dead. A terrible scene of boyish anguish followed, as +they kissed again and again the lifeless brow. But quietly, calmly, +Mr. Rose checked them, and they knelt down with streaming eyes +while he prayed.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="1CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<br> +<h3>HOME AGAIN</h3> +<blockquote>"O far beyond the waters<br> + The fickle feet may roam,<br> +But they find no light so pure and bright<br> + As the one fair star of home;<br> +The star of tender hearts, lady,<br> + That glows in an English home,"<br> +<br> +F.W.F.</blockquote> +<p>That night when Eric returned to No. 7, full of grief, and +weighed down with the sense of desolation and mystery, the other +boys were silent from sympathy in his sorrow. Duncan and Llewellyn +both knew and loved Russell themselves, and they were awestruck to +hear of his death; they asked some of the particulars, but Eric was +not calm enough to tell them that evening. The one sense of +infinite loss agitated him, and he indulged his paroxysms of +emotion unrestrained, yet silently. Reader, if ever the life has +been cut short which you most dearly loved, if ever you have been +made to feel absolutely lonely in the world, then, and then only, +will you appreciate the depth of his affliction.</p> +<p>But, like all affliction, it purified and sanctified. To Eric, +as he rested his aching head on a pillow wet with tears, and vainly +sought for the sleep whose blessing he had never learned to prize +before, how odious seemed all the vice which he had seen and +partaken in since he became an inmate of that little room. How his +soul revolted with infinite disgust from the language which he had +heard, and the open glorying in sin of which he had so often been a +witness. The stain and the shame of sin fell heavier than ever on +his heart; it rode on his breast like a nightmare; it haunted his +fancy with visions of guilty memory, and shapes of horrible regret. +The ghosts of buried misdoings, which he had thought long lost in +the mists of recollection, started up menacingly from their +forgotten graves, and made him shrink with a sense of their awful +reality. Behind him, like a wilderness, lay years which the locust +had eaten; the intrusted hours which had passed away, and been +reckoned to him as they past.</p> +<p>And the thought of Russell mingled with all--Russell, as he +fondly imagined him now, glorified with the glory of heaven, +crowned, and in white robes, and with a palm in his hand. Yes, he +had walked and talked with one of the Holy Ones. Had Edwin's death, +quenched his human affections, and altered his human heart? If not, +might not he be there even now, leaning over his friend with the +beauty of his invisible presence? The thought startled him, and +seemed to give an awful lustre to the moonbeam which fell into the +room. No; he could not endure such a presence now, with his weak +conscience and corrupted heart; and Eric hid his head under the +clothes, and shut his eyes.</p> +<p>Once more the pang of separation entered like iron into his +soul. Should he ever meet Russell again? What if <i>he</i> had died +instead of Edwin, where would he have been? "Oh, no! no!" he +murmured aloud, as the terrible thought came over him of his own +utter unfitness for death, and the possibility that he might never, +never again hear the beloved accents, or gaze on the cherished +countenance of his school friend.</p> +<p>In this tumult of accusing thoughts he fell asleep; but that +night the dew of blessing did not fall for him on the fields of +sleep. He was frightened by unbidden dreams, in all of which his +conscience obtruded on him his sinfulness, and his affection called +up the haunting lineaments of the dear dead face. He was wandering +down a path, at the end of which Russell stood with open arms +inviting him earnestly to join him there; he saw his bright +ingenuous smile, and heard, as of old, his joyous words, and he +hastened to meet him; when suddenly the boy-figure disappeared, and +in its place he saw the stern brow, and gleaming garments, and +drawn flaming sword of the Avenger. And then he was in a great wood +alone, and wandering, when the well-known voice called his name, +and entreated him to turn from that evil place; and he longed to +turn,--but, whenever he tried, ghostly hands seemed to wave him +back again, and irresistible cords to drag him into the dark +forest, amid the sound of mocking laughs. Then he was sinking, +sinking, sinking into a gulf, deep and darker even than the inner +darkness of a sin-desolated heart; sinking, helplessly, hopelessly, +everlastingly; while far away, like a star, stood the loved figure +in light infinitely above him, and with pleading hands implored his +deliverance, but could not prevail; and Eric was still sinking, +sinking, infinitely, when the agony awoke him with a violent start +and stifled scream.</p> +<p>He could sleep no longer. Whenever he closed his eyes he saw the +pale, dead, holy features of Edwin, and at last he fancied that he +was praying beside his corpse, praying to be more like <i>him</i>, +who lay there so white and calm; sorrowing beside it, sorrowing +that he had so often rejected his kind warnings, and pained his +affectionate heart. So Eric began again to make good resolutions +about all his future life. Ah! how often he had done so before, and +how often they had failed. He had not yet learned the lesson which +David learned by sad experience; "Then I said, it is mine own +infirmity, <i>but I will remember the years of the right hand of +the Most High</i>."</p> +<p>That, too, was an eventful night for Montagu. He had grown of +late far more thoughtful than before; under Edwin's influence he +had been laying aside, one by one, the careless sins of school +life, and his tone was nobler and manlier than it had ever been. +Montagu had never known or heard much about godliness; his father, +a gentleman, a scholar, and a man of the world, had trained him in +the principles of refinement and good taste, and given him a high +standard of conventional honor; but he passed through life lightly, +and had taught his son to do the same. Possessed of an ample +fortune, which Montagu was to inherit, he troubled himself with +none of the deep mysteries of life, and</p> +<blockquote>"Pampered the coward heart<br> +With feelings all too delicate for use;<br> +Nursing in some delicious solitude<br> +His dainty love and slothful sympathies."</blockquote> +<p>But Montagu in Edwin's sick-room and by his death bed; in the +terrible storm at the Stack, and by contact with Dr. Rowlands' +earnestness, and Mr. Rose's deep, unaffected, sorrow-mingled piety; +by witnessing Eric's failures and recoveries; and by beginning to +take in his course the same heartfelt interest which Edwin taught +him--Montagu, in consequence of these things, had begun to see +another side of life, which awoke all his dormant affections and +profoundest reasonings. It seemed as though, for the first time, he +began to catch some of</p> +<blockquote>"The still gad music of humanity,"</blockquote> +<p>and to listen with deep eagerness to the strain. Hitherto, to be +well dressed, handsome, agreeable, rich, and popular, had been to +him a realised ideal of life; but now he awoke to higher and +worthier aims; and once, when Russell, whose intelligent interest +in his work exceeded that of any other boy, had pointed out to him +that solemn question of Euripides--</p> +<blockquote>"[Greek: Ohiei su tous thanontas o Nichaezate<br> +Tzuphaes hapasaes metalabontas en bips<br> +Pepheugenai to theion];"</blockquote> +<p>he fell into a train of reflection, which made a lasting +impression upon his character.</p> +<p>The holidays were approaching. Eric, to escape as much, as +possible from his sorrow, plunged into the excitement of working +for the examination, and rapidly made up for lost ground. He now +spent most of his time with the best of his friends, particularly +Montagu, Owen, and Upton; for Upton, like himself, had been much +sobered by sorrow at their loss. This time he came out +<i>second</i> in his form, and gained more than one prize. This was +his first glimpse of real delight since Russell's death; and when +the prize-day came, and he stood with his companions in the +flower-decorated room, and went up amid universal applause to take +his prize-books, and receive a few words of compliment from the +governor who took the chair, he felt almost happy, and keenly +entered into the pleasure which his success caused, as well as into +the honors won by his friends. One outward sign only remained of +his late bereavement--his mourning dress. All the prize-boys wore +rosebuds or lilies of the valley in their button-holes on the +occasion, but on this day Eric would not wear them. Little Wright, +who was a great friend of theirs, had brought some as a present +both to Eric and Montagu, as they stood together on the prize-day +morning; they took them with thanks, and, as their eyes met, they +understood each other's thoughts.</p> +<p>"No," said Eric to Wright, "we won't wear these to-day, although +we have both got prizes. Come along I know what we will do with +them."</p> +<p>They all three walked together to the little green, quiet +churchyard, where, by his own request, Edwin had been buried. Many +a silent visit had the friends paid to that grave, on which the +turf was now green again, and the daisies had begun to bloom. A +stone had just been placed to mark the spot, and they read--</p> + +<p class="c"> SACRED TO THE MEMORY<br> +OF<br> +AN ORPHAN,<br> +WHO DIED AT ROSLYN SCHOOL, MAY 1847,<br> +AGED FIFTEEN YEARS.<br> +———<br> +"<i>Is it well with the child? It is well</i>."<br> +2 KINGS iv. 26.</p> + +<p>The three boys stood by the grave in silence and sorrow for a +time.</p> +<p>"He would have been the gladdest at our success. Monty," said +Eric; "let us leave the signs of it upon his grave."</p> +<p>And, with reverent hand, scattering over that small mound the +choice rosebuds and fragrant lilies with their green leaves, they +turned away without another word.</p> +<p>The next morning the great piles of corded boxes which crowded +the passage were put on the coach, and the boys, gladly leaving the +deserted building, drove in every sort of vehicle to the steamer. +What joyous triumphant mornings those were! How the heart exulted +and bounded with, the sense of life and pleasure, and how universal +was the gladness and good humor of every one. Never were voyages so +merry as those of the steamer that day, and even the "good-byes" +that had to be said at Southpool were lightly borne. From thence +the boys quickly scattered to the different railways, and the +numbers of those who were travelling together got thinner and +thinner as the distance increased. Wright and one or two others +went nearly all the way with Eric, and when he got down at the +little roadside station, from whence started the branch rail to +Ayrton, he bade them merry and affectionate farewell. The branch +train soon started, and in another hour he would be at +Fairholm.</p> +<p>It was not till then that his home feelings woke in all their +intensity. He had not been there for a year. At Roslyn the summer +holidays were nine weeks, and the holidays at Christmas and Easter +were short, so that it had not been worth while to travel so far as +Fairholm, and Eric had spent his Christmas with friends in another +part of the island. But now he was once more to see dear Fairholm, +and his aunt, his cousin Fanny, and above all, his little brother. +His heart was beating fast with joy, and his eyes sparkling with +pleasure and excitement. As he thrust his head out of the window, +each well-remembered landmark gave him the delicious sensation of +meeting again an old friend. "Ah! there's the white bridge, and +there's the canal, and the stile; and <i>there</i> runs the river, +and there's Velvet Lawn. Hurrah! here we are." And springing out of +the train before it had well stopped, he had shaken hands heartily +with the old coachman, who was expecting him, and jumped up into +the carriage in a moment.</p> +<p>Through the lanes he knew so well, by whose hedgerows he had so +often plucked sorrel and wild roses; past the old church with its +sleeping churchyard; through, the quiet village, where every ten +yards he met old acquaintances who looked pleased to see him, and +whom he greeted with glad smiles and nods of recognition; past the +Latin school, from which came murmurs and voices as of yore (what a +man he felt himself now by comparison!);--by the old Roman camp, +where he had imagined such heroic things when he was a child; +through all the scenes so rich with the memories and associations +of his happy childhood, they flew along; and now they had entered +the avenue, and Eric was painfully on the look-out.</p> +<p>Yes! there they were all three--Mrs. Trevor, and Fanny, and +Vernon, on the mound at the end of the avenue; and the younger ones +ran to meet him. It was a joyous meeting; he gave Fanny a hearty +kiss, and put his arm round Vernon's neck, and then held him in +front to have a look at him.</p> +<p>"How tall you've grown, Verny, and how well you look," he said, +gazing proudly at him; and indeed the boy was a brother to be +justly proud of. And Vernon quite returned the admiration as he saw +the healthy glow of Eric's features, and the strong graceful +development of his limbs.</p> +<p>And so they quickly joined Mrs. Trevor, who embraced her nephew +with a mother's love: and, amid all that nameless questioning of +delightful trifles, that "blossoming vein" of household talk, which +gives such an incommunicable charm to the revisiting of home, they +all three turned into the house, where Eric, hungry with his +travels, did ample justice to the "jolly spread" prepared for him, +luxurious beyond anything he had seen for his last year at school. +When he and Vernon went up to their room at night--the same little +room in which they slept on the night when they first had met--they +marked their heights on the door again, which showed Eric that in +the last year he had grown two inches, a fact which he pointed out +to Vernon with no little exultation. And then they went to bed, and +to a sleep over which brooded the indefinite sensation of a great +unknown joy;--that rare heavenly sleep which only comes once or +twice or thrice in life, on occasions such as this.</p> +<p>He was up early next morning, and, opening his window, leaned +out with his hands among the green vine-leaves which encircled it. +The garden looked beautiful as ever, and he promised himself an +early enjoyment of those currants which hung in ruby clusters over +the walls. Everything was bathed in the dewy balm of summer +morning, and he felt very happy as, with his little spaniel +frisking round him, he visited the great Newfoundland in his +kennel, and his old pet the pony in the stable. He had barely +finished his rounds when breakfast was ready, and he once more met +the home-circle from which he had been separated for a year. And +yet over all his happiness hung a sense of change and half +melancholy; they were not changed but <i>he</i> was changed. Mrs. +Trevor, and Fanny, and Vernon were the same as ever, but over +<i>him</i>, had come an alteration of feeling and circumstance; an +unknown or half-known <i>something</i> which cast a shadow between +them and him, and sometimes made him half shrink and start as he +met their loving looks. Can no schoolboy, who reads history, +understand and explain the feeling which I mean?</p> +<p>By that mail he wrote to his father and mother an account of +Russell's death, and he felt that they would guess why the letter +was so blurred. "But," he wrote, "I have some friends still; +especially Mr. Rose among the masters, and Monty and Upton among +the boys. Monty you know; he is more like Edwin than any other boy, +and I like him very much. You didn't know Upton, but I am a great +deal with him, though he is much older than I am. He is a fine +handsome fellow, and one of the most popular in the school. I hope +you will know him some day."</p> +<p>The very next morning Eric received a letter which he at once +recognised to be in Upton's handwriting He eagerly tore off the +envelope, and read--</p> +<p>"My dearest Eric--I have got bad news to tell you, at least, I +feel it to be bad news for me, and I flatter myself that you will +feel it to be bad news for you. In short, I am going to leave +Roslyn, and probably we shall never meet there again. The reason +is, I have had a cadetship given me, and I am to sail for India in +September. I have already written to the school to tell them to +pack up and send me all my books and clothes.</p> +<p>"I feel leaving very much; it has made me quite miserable. I +wanted to stay at school another year at least; and I will honestly +tell you, Eric, one reason: I'm very much afraid that I've done +you, and Graham, and other fellows, no good; and I wanted, if I +possibly could, to undo the harm I had done. Poor Edwin's death +opened my eyes to a good many things, and now I'd give all I have +never to have taught or encouraged you in wrong things. Unluckily +it's too late;--only, I hope that you already see, as I do, that +the things I mean lead to evil far greater than we ever used to +dream of.</p> +<p>"Good-bye now, old fellow! Do write to me soon, and forgive me, +and believe me ever--Your most affectionate, HORACE UPTON."</p> +<p>"P.S.--Is that jolly little Vernon going back to school with you +this time? I remember seeing him running about the shore with my +poor cousin, when you were a home-boarder, and thinking what a nice +little chap he looked. I hope you'll look after him as a brother +should, and keep him out of mischief."</p> +<p>Eric folded the letter sadly, and put it into his pocket; he +didn't often show them his school letters, because, like this one, +they often contained allusions to things which he did not like his +aunt to know. The thought of Upton's leaving him made him quite +unhappy, and he wrote him a long letter by that post, indignantly +denying the supposition that his friendship had ever done him +anything but good.</p> +<p>The postscript about Vernon suggested a thought that had often +been in his mind. He could not but shudder in himself, when he +thought of that bright little brother of his being initiated in the +mysteries of evil which he himself had learnt, and sinking like +himself into slow degeneracy of heart and life. It puzzled and +perplexed him, and at last he determined to open his heart, +partially at least, in a letter to Mr. Rose. The master fully +understood his doubts, and wrote him the following reply:--</p> +<p>"My dear Eric--I have just received your letter about your +brother Vernon, and I think that it does you honor. I will briefly +give you my own opinion.</p> +<p>"You mean, no doubt, that, from your own experience, you fear +that Vernon will hear at school many things which will shock his +modesty, and much language which is evil and blasphemous; you fear +that he will meet with many bad examples, and learn to look on God +and godliness in a way far different from that to which he has been +accustomed at home. You fear, in short, that he must pass through +the same painful temptations to which you have yourself been +subjected; to which, perhaps, you have even succumbed.</p> +<p>"Well, Eric, this is all true. Yet, knowing this, I say, by all +means let Vernon come to Roslyn. The innocence of mere ignorance is +a poor thing; it <i>cannot</i>, under any circumstances, be +permanent, nor is it at all valuable as a foundation of character. +The true preparation for life, the true basis of a manly character, +is not to have been ignorant of evil, but to have known it and +avoided it; not to hare been sheltered from temptation, but to have +passed through it and overcome it by God's help. Many have drawn +exaggerated pictures of the lowness of public school morality; the +best answer is to point to the good and splendid men that have been +trained in public schools, and who lose no opportunity of recurring +to them with affection. It is quite possible to be <i>in</i> the +little world of school-life, and yet not <i>of</i> it. The ruin of +human souls can never be achieved by enemies from without, unless +they be aided by traitors from within. Remember our lost friend; +the peculiar lustre of his piety was caused by the circumstances +under which he was placed. He often told me before his last hour, +that he rejoiced to have been at Roslyn; that he had experienced +there much real happiness, and derived in every way lasting +good.</p> +<p>"I hope you have been enjoying your holidays, and that you will +come back with the 'spell of home affection' alive in your heart. I +shall rejoice to make Vernon's acquaintance, and will do for him +all I can. Bring him with you to me in the library as soon as you +arrive.--Ever, dear Eric,</p> +<p>"Affectionately yours,</p> +<p>"WALTER ROSA."</p> +<br> +<p>END OF PART I</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="PART_II"></a>PART II</h2> +<blockquote> "Sed revocare +gradum."--VIRGIL.</blockquote> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> +<br> +<h3>ABDIEL</h3> +<blockquote>[Greek: Phtheirousin aethae chraesth' omiliai +kakai].--MENANDEB.</blockquote> +<p>A year had passed since the events narrated in the last chapter, +and had brought with it many changes.</p> +<p>To Eric the changes were not for good. The memories of Russell +were getting dim; the resolutions made during his illness had +vanished; the bad habits laid aside after his death had been +resumed. All this took place very gradually; there were many inward +struggles, much occasional remorse, but the struggles by degrees +grew weaker, and remorse lost its sting, and Eric Williams soon +learned again to follow the multitude to do evil.</p> +<p>He was now sixteen years old, and high in the fifth form, and, +besides this, he was captain of the school eleven. In work he had +fallen off and no one now expected the fulfilment of that promise +of genius which he had given when he first came. But in all school +sports he had improved, and was the acknowledged leader and +champion in matters requiring boldness and courage. His popularity +made him giddy; favor of man led him to forgetfulness of God; and +even a glance at his countenance showed a self-sufficiency and +arrogance which ill became the refinement of his features, and ill +replaced the ingenuous modesty of former years.</p> +<p>And Vernon Williams was no longer a new boy. The worst had +happened to him, which Eric in his better moments could have +feared. He had fallen into thoroughly bad hands, and Eric, who +should have been his natural guardian and guide, began to treat him +with indifference, and scarcely ever had any affectionate +intercourse with him. It is by no means unfrequent that brothers at +school see but little of each other, and follow their several +pursuits, and choose their various companions, with small regard to +the relationship between them.</p> +<p>Yet Eric could not overlook or be blind to the fact, that +Vernon's chief friend or leader was the most undesirable whom he +could have chosen. It was a new boy named Brigson. This boy had +been expelled from one of the most ill-managed schools in Ireland, +although, of course, the fact had been most treacherously concealed +from the authorities at Roslyn; and now he was let loose, without +warning or caution, among the Roslyn boys. Better for them if their +gates had been open to the pestilence! the pestilence could but +have killed the body, but this boy--this fore-front fighter in the +devil's battle--did ruin many an immortal soul. He systematically, +from the very first, called evil good and good evil, put bitter for +sweet and sweet for bitter. He openly threw aside the admission of +any one moral obligation. Never did some of the Roslyn boys, to +their dying day, forget the deep, intolerable, unfathomable flood +of moral turpitude and iniquity which he bore with him; a flood, +which seemed so irresistible, and the influence of such boys as +Montagu and Owen to stay its onrush seemed as futile as the weight +of a feather to bar the fury of a mountain stream. Eric might have +done much, Duncan might have done much, to aid the better cause, +had they tried; but they resisted at first but faintly, and then +not at all, until they too were swept away in the broadening tide +of degeneracy and sin.</p> +<p>Big, burly, and strong, though much younger than he looked (if +he stated his age correctly, which I doubt), Brigson, being low in +the school, naturally became the bully and the Coryphaeus of all +the lower forms--the bully if they opposed him, the Coryphaeus if +they accepted his guidance. A little army of small boys attended +him, and were ever ready for the schemes of mischief to which he +deliberately trained them, until they grew almost as turbulent, as +disobedient, and as wicked, as himself. He taught, both, by precept +and example, that towards masters neither honor was to be +recognized, nor respect to be considered due. To cheat them, to lie +to them, to annoy them in every possible way--to misrepresent their +motives, mimic their defects, and calumniate their actions--was the +conduct which he inaugurated towards them; and for the time that he +continued at Roslyn the whole lower school was a Pandemonium of +evil passions and despicable habits.</p> +<p>Every one of the little boys became more or less amenable to his +influence, and among them. Vernon Williams. Had Eric done his duty +this would never have been; but he was half-ashamed to be often +with his brother, and disliked to find him so often creeping to his +side. He flattered himself that in this feeling he was only anxious +that Vernon should grow spirited and independent; but, had he +examined himself, he would have found selfishness at the bottom of +it. Once or twice his manner showed harshness to Vernon, and the +little boy both observed and resented it. Montagu and others +noticed him for Eric's sake; but, being in the same form with +Brigson, Vernon was thrown much with him, and feeling, as he did, +deserted and lonely, he was easily caught by the ascendancy of his +physical strength and reckless daring. Before three months were +over, he became, to Eric's intolerable disgust, a ringleader in the +band of troublesome scapegraces, whose increasing numbers were the +despair of all who had the interests of the school at heart.</p> +<p>Unfortunately, Owen was now head of the school, and from his +constitutional want of geniality, he was so little of a boy that he +had no sympathy from the others, and little authority over them. He +simply kept aloof, holding his own way, and retiring into his own +tastes and pursuits, and the society of one or two congenial +spirits in the school, so as in no way to come in contact with the +spreading corruption.</p> +<p>Montagu, now Owen's chief friend, was also in the sixth, and +fearlessly expressed at once his contempt for Brigson, and his +dread of the evil he was effecting. Had the monitorial system +existed, that contagion could have been checked at once; but, as it +was, brute force the unlimited authority. Ill indeed are those +informed who raise a cry, and join in the ignorant abuse of that +noble safeguard of English schools. Any who have had personal and +intimate experience of how schools work <i>with</i> it and +<i>without</i> it, know what a Palladium it is of happiness and +morality; how it prevents bullying, upholds manliness, is the +bulwark of discipline, and makes boys more earnest and thoughtful, +often at the most critical period of their lives, by enlisting all +their sympathies and interests on the side of the honorable and the +just.</p> +<p>Brigson knew at a glance whom he had most to fear; Bull, Attlay, +Llewellyn, Graham, all tolerated or even approved of him. Owen did +not come in his way, so he left him unmolested. To Eric and Duncan +he was scrupulously civil, and by flattery and deference managed to +keep apparently on excellent terms with them. Eric pretended to be +ignorant of the harm he was bringing about, and in answer to the +indignant and measureless invectives of Montagu and others, +professed to see in Brigson a very good fellow; rather wild, +perhaps, but still a very good fellow.</p> +<p>Brigson hated Montagu, because he read on his features the +unvarying glance of withering contempt. He dared not come across +him openly, since Montagu was so high in the school; and besides, +though much the bigger of the two, Brigson was decidedly afraid of +him. But he chose sly methods of perpetual annoyance. He nick-named +him "Rosebud;" he talked <i>at</i> him whenever he had an +opportunity; he poisoned the minds of the gang of youngsters +against him; he spread malicious reports about him; he diminished +his popularity, and embittered his feelings, by every secret and +underhand means which, lay in his power.</p> +<p>One method of torment was most successful. As a study-boy, +Montagu did not come to bed till an hour later than <i>the</i> +lower part of the school, and Brigson taught some of the little +fellows to play all kinds of tricks to his bed and room, so that, +when he came down, it was with the certainty of finding everything +in confusion. Sometimes his bed would be turned right on end, and +he would have to put it to the ground and remake it before he could +lie down. Sometimes all the furniture in the room would be thrown +about in different corners, with no trace of the offender. +Sometimes he would find all sorts of things put inside the bed +itself. The intolerable part of the vexation was, to be certain +that this was done by Brigson's instigation, or by his own hand, +without having the means of convicting or preventing him. Poor +Monty grew very sad at heart, and this perpetual dastardly +annoyance weighed the more heavily on his spirits, from its being +of a kind which peculiarly grated on his refined taste, and his +natural sense of what was gentlemanly and fair.</p> +<p>One night, coming down, as usual, in melancholy dread, he saw a +light under the door of his room. It struck him that he was earlier +than usual, and he walked up quickly and noiselessly. There they +were at it! The instant he entered, there was a rush through the +opposite door, and he felt convinced that one of the retreating +figures was Brigson's. In a second he had sprung across, so as to +prevent the rest from running, and with heaving breast and flaming +eyes, glared at the intruders as they stood there, sheepish and +afraid.</p> +<p>"What!" he said angrily, "so <i>you</i> are the fellows who have +had the cowardice to annoy me thus, night after night, for weeks; +you miserable, degraded young animals!" And he looked at the four +or five who had not made their escape. "What! and <i>you</i> among +them," he said with a start, as he caught the eye of Vernon +Williams--"Oh, this is too bad." His tone showed the deepest sorrow +and vexation, and for a moment he said no more. Instantly Vernon +was by him.</p> +<p>"<i>Do</i> forgive me, <i>do</i> forgive me, Montagu," he said; +"I really didn't know it teased you so much."</p> +<p>But Montagu shook him off, and at once recovered himself. +"Wretched boys! let me see what you have been doing to-night. Oh, +as usual," he said, glancing at the complete disorder which they +had been effecting. "Ha! but what is this? So Brigson has +introduced another vile secret among you. Well, he shall rue it!" +and he pointed to some small, almost invisible flakes of a whitish +substance scattered here and there over his pillow. It was a kind +of powder, which if once it touched the skin, caused the most +violent and painful irritation.</p> +<p>"By heavens, this is <i>too</i> bad!" he exclaimed, stamping his +foot with anger. "What have I ever done to you young blackguards, +that you should treat me thus? Have I ever been a bully? Have I +ever harmed one of you? And <i>you</i>, too, Vernon Williams!"</p> +<p>The little boy trembled and looked ashamed under his noble +glance of sorrow and scorn.</p> +<p>"Well, I <i>know</i> who has put you up to this; but you shall +not escape so. I shall thrash you every one."</p> +<p>Very quietly he suited the action to the word, sparing none. +They took it patiently enough, conscious of richly deserving it; +and when it was over, Vernon said, "Forgive me, Montagu. I am very +sorry, and will never do so again." Montagu, without deigning a +reply, motioned them to go, and then sat down, full of grief, on +his bed. But the outrage was not over for that night, and no sooner +had he put out the light than he became painfully aware that +several boys were stealing into the room, and the next moment he +felt a bolster fall on his head. He was out of bed in an instant, +and with a few fierce and indignant blows, had scattered the crowd +of his cowardly assailants, and driven them away. A number of +fellows had set on him in the dark--on <i>him</i>, of all others. +Oh, what a change must have happened in the school that this should +be possible! He felt that the contagion of Brigson's baseness had +spread far indeed.</p> +<p>He fought like a lion, and several of the conspirators had +reason to repent their miscalculation in assaulting so spirited an +antagonist. But this did not content him; his blood was up, and he +determined to attack the evil at its source. He strode through his +discomfited enemies straight into Brigson's room, struck a match, +and said, "Brigson, get out of bed this instant."</p> +<p>"Hullo!" grunted Brigson, pretending to be only just awake.</p> +<p>"None of that, you blackguard! Will you take a thrashing?"</p> +<p>"No!" roared Brigson, "I should think not."</p> +<p>"Well, then, take <i>that</i>!" he shouted, striking him in the +face.</p> +<p>The fight that followed was very short. In a single round +Montagu had utterly thrashed, and stricken to the earth, and forced +to beg for mercy, his cumbrous and brutal opponent. He seemed to +tower above him with a magnificent superiority, and there was a +self-controlled passion about him which gave tremendous energy to +every blow. Brigson was utterly dashed, confounded, and cowed, and +took without a word the parting kick of ineffable contempt which +Montagu bestowed on him.</p> +<p>"There," he said to the fellows, who had thronged in from all +the dormitories at the first hint of a fight, "I, a sixth-form +fellow, have condescended to thrash that base coward there, whom +all you miserable lower boys have been making an idol and hero of, +and from whom you have been so readily learning every sort of +blackguardly and debasing trick. But let me tell you and your hero, +that if any of you dare to annoy or lift a finger at me again, you +shall do it at your peril. I despise you all; there is hardly one +gentlemanly or honorable fellow left among you since that fellow +Brigson has come here; yes, I despise you, and you know that you +deserve it." And every one of them <i>did</i> shrink before his +just and fiery rebuke.</p> +<p>The scene was not over when the door suddenly opened, and Mr. +Rose appeared. He stood amazed to see Montagu there in his +night-shirt, the boys all round, and Brigson washing his nose, +which was bleeding profusely, at his basin.</p> +<p>Montagu instantly stepped up to him. "You can trust me, sir; may +I ask you kindly to say nothing of this? I have been thrashing some +one that deserved it, and teaching these fellows a lesson."</p> +<p>Mr. Rose saw and allowed for his excited manner. "I can trust +you," he said, "Montagu, and shall take no farther notice of this +irregularity. And now get instantly to your beds."</p> +<p>But Montagu, slipping on his clothes, went straight up to the +studies, and called the upper boys together. He briefly told them +what had occurred, and they rejoiced greatly, binding themselves +for the future to check, if they could, by all fair means, +Brigson's pernicious influence and abominable example.</p> +<p>But it was too late now; the mischief was done.</p> +<p>"O Eric," said Montagu, "why did you not make a stand against +all this before? Your own brother was one of them."</p> +<p>"Little wretch. I'll kick him well for it," said Eric.</p> +<p>"No, no!" said Montagu, "that'll do no good. Try rather to look +after him a little more."</p> +<p>"I hope <i>you</i> will forgive him, and try and rescue +him."</p> +<p>"I will do what I can," said Montagu, coldly.</p> +<p>Eric sighed, and they parted.</p> +<p>Montagu had hoped that after this Eric would at least break off +all open connection with Brigson; and, indeed, Eric had meant to do +so. But that personage kept carefully out of his way until the +first burst of indignation against him had subsided, and after a +time began to address Eric as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile he +had completely regained his ascendancy over the lower part of the +school, which was not difficult, because they were wincing under +Montagu's contempt, and mingled no little dislike with it; a +dislike which all are too apt to feel towards those whose very +presence and moral superiority are a tacit rebuke of their own +failings. But while Montagu was hated, Eric was at the zenith of +popular favor, a favor which Brigson ostentatiously encouraged. He +was openly flattered and caressed, and if ever he got a large score +at cricket, it was chalked triumphantly over the walls. All this he +was weak enough to enjoy immensely, and it was one of the reasons +why he did not wish to risk his popularity by breaking with +Brigson. So, after a little constraint and coldness, he began to +stand in much the same relation to him as before.</p> +<p>The best-disposed of the upper boys disliked all this very much, +and the sixth and fifth forms began to be split up into two main +parties--the one, headed by Eric, and, to a much less degree, by +Duncan, who devoted themselves to the games and diversions of the +school, and troubled themselves comparatively little about anything +else; the other, headed by Montagu, who took the lead in +intellectual pursuits, and endeavored, by every means in their +power, to counteract the pernicious effects of the spreading +immorality.</p> +<p>And so at Roslyn, owing mainly to the wickedness of one depraved +boy, and the weak fear of man which actuated others, all was +disunion, misery, and deterioration. The community which had once +been peaceful, happy, and united, was filled with violent jealousy +and heart-burnings; every boy's hand seemed to be against his +neighbor; lying, bad language, dishonesty, grew fearfully rife, and +the few who, like Owen and Montagu, remained uncontaminated by the +general mischief, walked alone and despondent amid their +uncongenial and degraded schoolfellow.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> +<br> +<h3>WILDNEY</h3> +<blockquote>"That punishment's the best to bear<br> + That follows soonest on the sin,<br> +And guilt's a game where losers fare<br> + Better than those who seem to win."<br> +<br> +COV. PATMORE.</blockquote> +<p>At the beginning of this quarter Eric and Duncan had succeeded +to one of the studies, and Owen shared with Montagu the one which +adjoined it.</p> +<p>Latterly the small boys, in the universal spirit of +disobedience, had frequented the studies a good deal, but it was +generally understood that no study-boy might ask any one to be a +regular visitor to his room without the leave of its other +occupant.</p> +<p>So one evening Duncan said to Eric, "Do you know little +Wildney?"</p> +<p>"You mean that jolly fearless-looking little fellow, with, the +great black eyes, who came at the beginning of the quarter? No, I +don't know him."</p> +<p>"Well, he's a very nice little fellow; a regular devil"</p> +<p>"Humph!" said Eric, laughing; "I shall bring out a new +Duncan-dictionary, in which. [Greek: chezchochezons chos] = very +nice little fellow."</p> +<p>"Pooh!" said Duncan; "you know well enough what I mean; I mean +he's not one of your white-faced, lily-hearted new boys, but has +lots of fun in him."</p> +<p>"Well, what of him?"</p> +<p>"Have you any objection to my asking him to sit in the study +when he likes?"</p> +<p>"Not the least in the world."</p> +<p>"Very well, I'll go and fetch him now. But wouldn't you like to +ask your brother Vernon to come in too whenever he's inclined?"</p> +<p>"No," said Eric, "I don't care. He does come every now and +then."</p> +<p>Duncan went to fetch Wildney, and while he was gone, Brie was +thinking <i>why</i> he didn't give Vernon the free run of his +study. He would not admit to himself the true reason, which was, +that he had too much ground to fear that his example would do his +brother no good.</p> +<p>Eric soon learned to like Wildney, who was a very bright, +engaging, spirited boy, with a dash of pleasant impudence about him +which took Eric's fancy. He had been one of the most mischievous of +the lower fellows, but, although clever, did little or nothing in +school, and was in the worst repute with the masters. Until he was +"taken up" by Eric, he had been a regular little hero among his +compeers, because he was game for any kind of mischief, and, in the +new tone of popular morality, his fearless disregard of rules made +him the object of general admiration. From this time, however, he +was much in the studies, and unhappily carried with him to those +upper regions the temptation to a deeper and more injurious class +of transgressions than had yet penetrated there.</p> +<p>It was an ill day for General Wildney when he sent his idolised +little son to Roslyn; it was an ill day for Eric when Duncan first +asked the child to frequent their study.</p> +<p>It was past nine at night, and the lower school had gone to bed, +but there was Wildney quietly sitting on Eric's knee by the study +fire, while Duncan was doing some Arnold's verses for him to be +shown up next day.</p> +<p>"Bother these verses," said Duncan, "I shall have a whiff. Do +you mind, Eric?"</p> +<p>"No; not at all."</p> +<p>"Give me a weed, too," said Wildney.</p> +<p>"What! young un--you don't mean to say you smoke?" asked Eric in +surprise.</p> +<p>"Don't I, though? let me show you. Why, a whole lot of us went +and smoked two or three pipes by Riverbend only yesterday."</p> +<p>"Phew!" said Eric, "then I suppose I must smoke too to keep you +in countenance;" and he took a cigar. It was the first time he had +touched one since the day at the Stack. The remembrance made him +gloomy and silent. "Tempora mutantur," thought he, "nos et mutamur +in illis."</p> +<p>"Why, how glum you are," said Wildney, patting him on the +head.</p> +<p>"O no!" said Eric, shaking off unpleasant memories. "Look," he +continued, pointing out of the window to change the subject, "what +a glorious night it is! Nothing but stars, stars, stars."</p> +<p>"Yes," said Duncan, yawning; "this smoking makes one very +thirsty. I wish I'd some beer."</p> +<p>"Well, why shouldn't we get some?" said Wildney "it would he +very jolly."</p> +<p>"Get some! What! at this time of night?"</p> +<p>"Yes; I'll go now, if you like, to Ellan, and be back before +ten."</p> +<p>"Nonsense," said Eric; "it aint worth while."</p> +<p>"I believe you think I'm afraid," said Wildney, laughing, and +looking at Eric with his dark eyes; "and what's more, I believe +<i>you're</i> afraid."</p> +<p>"Little whippersnapper!" said Eric, coloring, "as if I was +afraid to do anything <i>you</i> dare do. I'll go with you at once, +if you like."</p> +<p>"What are you thinking of?" asked Duncan. "I don't care twopence +about the beer, and I hope you won't go."</p> +<p>"But I will, though," said Eric, a little nettled that Wildney, +of all people, should think him wanting in pluck.</p> +<p>"But how will you get out?"</p> +<p>"Oh, <i>I'll</i> show you a dodge there," said Wildney. "Come +along. Have you a dark lantern?"</p> +<p>"No, but I'll get Llewellyn's."</p> +<p>"Come along then."</p> +<p>So the little boy of twelve took the initiative, and, carrying +the dark lantern, instructed the two study-boys of sixteen in a +secret which had long been known to the lower part of the +school.</p> +<p>"Ibant obscuri dubiâ sub luce." He led them quietly down +stairs, stole with them noiselessly past the library door, and took +them to a window in the passage, where a pane was broken.</p> +<p>"Could you get through that?" he whispered to Eric, "if we broke +away the rest of the glass?"</p> +<p>"I don't know. But, then, there's the bar outside."</p> +<p>"Oh, I'll manage that. But will you go and peep through the +key-hole of the library, and see who's there, Duncan?"</p> +<p>"No," said Duncan, bluntly, "no key-holes for me."</p> +<p>"Hush! then <i>I</i> will," and he glided away, while Eric, as +quietly as he could, broke away the glass until it was all +removed.</p> +<p>"There's only old Stupid," whispered he, irreverently +designating an under-master named Harley, "and he's asleep before +the fire. Now, then, just lift me up, Eric, will you?"</p> +<p>Eric lifted him, and he removed the nails which fastened the end +of the bar. They looked secure enough, and were nails an inch long +driven into the mortar; but they had been successfully loosened, +and only wanted a little pull to bring them out. In one minute +Wildney had unfastened and pushed down one end of the bar. He then +got through the broken pane, and dropped down outside. Eric +followed with some little difficulty, for the aperture would only +just admit his passage; and Duncan, going back to the study, +anxiously awaited their return.</p> +<p>It was a bright moonlight night, and the autumn air was pleasant +and cool. But Eric's first thought, as he dropped on to the ground, +was one of shame that he should suffer his new friend, a mere +child, so easily to tempt him into disobedience and sin. He had +hardly thought till then of what their errand was to be, but now +his couldn't help so strongly disapproving of it, that he was +half-inclined to turn back. He did not, however, dare to suggest +this, lest Wildney should charge him with cowardice, and betray it +to the rest. Besides, the adventure had its own excitement, the +stars looked splendid, and the stolen waters were sweet.</p> +<p>"I hope we shan't be seen crossing the play-ground," said +Wildney. "My eye, shouldn't we catch it!"</p> +<p>He was obviously beginning to be afraid, so Eric assumed an air +of nonchalance, and played the part of protector.</p> +<p>"Here, take my arm," he said; and as Wildney grasped it tight, +instead of feeling angry and ashamed at having been misled by one +so much his junior, Eric felt strongly drawn towards him by +community of danger and interest. Reaching Ellan, it suddenly +struck him that he didn't know where they were going to buy the +beer. He asked Wildney.</p> +<p>"Oh, I see you're not half up to snuff," said Wildney, whose +courage had risen; "I'll show you."</p> +<p>He led to a little low public-house, whence tipsy songs were +booming, and tapped at a side door three times. As they looked in +they saw some sailors boozing in a dirty tap-room, and enveloped in +tobacco-smoke.</p> +<p>The side-door was opened, and a cunning wicked-looking man held +up a light to see who they were.</p> +<p>"Hollo, Billy," said Wildney, confidentially, "all serene; give +us two bottles of beer--on tick, you know."</p> +<p>"Yessir--d'reckly," said the man, with a hateful twinkle of the +eyes. "So you're out for a spree," he continued, winking in a +knowing way. "Won't you walk into the back-parlor while I get +them?" And he showed them into a dingy horrid room behind the +house, stale with smoke, and begrimed with dust.</p> +<p>Eric was silent and disgusted, but Wildney seemed quite at home. +The man soon returned with the beer. "Wouldn't you like a glass of +summat now, young gen'lmen?" he asked, in an insinuating way.</p> +<p>"No, Billy! don't jabber--we must be off. Here open the +door."</p> +<p>"Stop, I'll pay," said Eric. "What's the damage?"</p> +<p>"Three shilling, sir," said the man. "Glad to see a new +customer, sir." He pocketed the money, and showed them, out, +standing to look after them with a malicious leer as they +disappeared, and jerking his left thumb over his shoulder.</p> +<p>"Faugh!" said Eric, taking a long breath as they got out again +into the moonlight, "what a poisonous place! Good gracious, +Charlie, who introduced you there?"</p> +<p>"Oh, I don't think much of going <i>there</i>" said Wildney, +carelessly; "we go every-week almost."</p> +<p>"We! who?"</p> +<p>"Oh, Brigson and a lot of us. We have a club there which we call +the 'Anti-muffs,' and that's our smoking-room."</p> +<p>"And is that horrid beast the landlord?"</p> +<p>"Yes; he was an old school-servant, and there's no harm in him +that I know of."</p> +<p>But Eric only "phewed" again two or three times, and thought of +Montagu.</p> +<p>Suddenly Wildney clutched him by the arm, and pulled him into +the deep shadow of a porch, whispering, in a low tone, "Look!"</p> +<p>Under a lamp-post, directly opposite them, stood Mr. Rose! He +had heard voices and footsteps a moment before, and, puzzled at +their sudden cessation in the noiseless street, he was looking +round.</p> +<p>"We must run for it," whispered Wildney hastily, as Mr. Rose +approached the porch; and the two boys took to their heels, and +scampered away as hard as they could, Eric helping on Wildney by +taking his hand, and neither of them looking behind. They heard Mr. +Rose following them at first, but soon distanced him, and reached a +place where two roads met, either of which would lead to the +school.</p> +<p>"We won't go by the road; I know a short cut by the fields. What +fun!" said Wildney, laughing.</p> +<p>"What an audacious little monkey you are; you know all sorts of +dodges," said Eric.</p> +<p>They had no time to talk, but with, a speed winged by fear got +to the school, sprang on the buttress beneath the window, effected +their entrance, and vanished after replacing the bar--Eric to his +study, and Wildney to his dormitory.</p> +<p>"Here's a go!" said the latter, as they ran up stairs; "I've +smashed one of the beer-bottles in getting through the window, and +my trousers are deluged with the stuff."</p> +<p>They had hardly separated when Mr. Rose's step was heard on the +stairs. He was just returning from a dinner-party, when the sight +of two boys and the sound of their voices startled him in the +street, and their sudden disappearance made him sure that they were +Roslyn boys, particularly when they began to run. He strongly +suspected that he recognised Wildney as one of them, and therefore +made straight for his dormitory, which he entered, just as that +worthy had thrust the beer-stained trousers under his bed. Mr. +Rose, walked up quietly to his bedside, and observed that he was +not asleep, and that he still had half has clothes on. He was going +away when he saw a little bit of the trousers protruding under the +mattress, and giving a pull, out they came, wringing wet with the +streams of beer. He could not tell at first what this imported, but +a fragment of the bottle fell out of the pocket with, a crash on +the floor, and he then discovered. Taking no notice of Wildney's +pretended sleep, he said, quietly, "Come to me before breakfast +tomorrow, Wildney," and went down stairs.</p> +<p>Eric came in soon after, and found the little fellow vainly +attempting to appear indifferent, as he related to his admiring +auditors the night's adventure; being evidently rather prouder of +the "Eric and I," which he introduced every now and then into his +story.</p> +<p>"Has he twigged you?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"And me?"</p> +<p>"I don't know; we shall see to-morrow."</p> +<p>"I hope not," said Eric; "I'm sorry for you, Charlie."</p> +<p>"Can't be cured, must be endured," said Wildney.</p> +<p>"Well, good night! and don't lose heart."</p> +<p>Eric went back to Duncan in the study, and they finished the +other bottle of beer between them, though without much enjoyment, +because they were full of surmises as to the extent of the +discovery, and the nature of the punishment.</p> +<p>Eric went in to tell Montagu of their escapade.</p> +<p>He listened very coldly, and said, "Well, Eric, it would serve +you right to be caught. What business have you to be going out at +night, at the invitation of contemptible small fry, like this +little Wildney?"</p> +<p>"I beg you won't speak of any friend of mine in those terms," +said Eric, drawing up haughtily.</p> +<p>"I hope you don't call a bad little boy like Wildney, who'd be +no credit to any one, <i>your</i> friend, Eric?"</p> +<p>"Yes I do, though. He's one of the pluckiest, finest, most +promising fellows in the lower school."</p> +<p>"How I begin to hate that word plucky," said Montagu; "it's made +the excuse here for everything that's wrong, base, and unmanly. It +seems to me it's infinitely more 'plucky' just now to do your duty +and not be ashamed of it."</p> +<p>"You've certainly required <i>that</i> kind of pluck to bear you +up lately, Monty," said Owen, looking up from his books.</p> +<p>"Pluck!" said Montagu, scornfully; "you seem to me to think it +consists in lowering yourself down to the level of that odious +Brigson, and joining hand and glove with the dregs of the +school."</p> +<p>"Dregs of the school! Upon my word, you're cool, to speak of any +of my associates in that way," said Eric, now thoroughly angry.</p> +<p>"Associates!" retorted Montagu, hotly; "pretty associates! How +do you expect anything good to go on, when fellows high in the +school like you have such dealings with the refined honorable +Brigson, and the exemplary intellectual Wildney?"</p> +<p>"You're a couple of confounded muffs," shouted Eric, banging the +door, and flinging into his own study again without farther +reply.</p> +<p>"Hav'n't you been a little hard on him, considering the row he's +in?" asked Owen.</p> +<p>Montagu's head was resting on his hand as he bent over the +table. "Perhaps I have, indeed. But who could help it, Owen, in the +present state of things? Yes, you're right," he said, after a +pause; "<i>this</i> wasn't the time to speak. I'll go and talk to +him again. But how utterly changed he is!"</p> +<p>He found Eric on the stairs going down to bed with an +affectation of noise and gaiety. He ran after him, and said--</p> +<p>"Forgive me my passion and sarcasm, Williams. You know I am apt +to express myself strongly." He could not trust himself to say +more, but held out his hand.</p> +<p>Eric got red, and hesitated for a moment.</p> +<p>"Come, Eric, it isn't <i>wholly</i> my fault, is it, that we are +not so warm to each other as we were when ..."</p> +<p>"Oh, Monty, Monty!" said Eric, softened by the allusion; and +warmly grasped his friend's proffered hand.</p> +<p>"Oh, Eric!"</p> +<p>The two shook hands in silence, and as they left each other they +felt that while things continued thus their friendship could not +last. It was a sad thought for both.</p> +<p>Next morning Wildney received a severe flogging, but gained +great reputation by not betraying his companion, and refusing to +drop the least hint as to their means of getting out, or their +purpose in visiting Ellan. So the secret of the bar remained +undiscovered, and when any boy wanted to get out at +night--(unhappily the trick now became common enough)--he had only +to break a pane of glass in that particular window, which, as it +was in the passage, often remained unmended and undiscovered for +weeks.</p> +<p>After the flogging, Mr. Rose said shortly to Eric, "I want to +speak to you."</p> +<p>The boy's heart misgave him as they entered the familiar +library.</p> +<p>"I think I suspect who was Wildney's companion."</p> +<p>Eric was silent.</p> +<p>"I have no proof, and shall not therefore act on vague +suspicion; but the boy whom I <i>do</i> suspect is one whose course +lately has given me the deepest pain; one who has violated all the +early promise he gave; one who seems to be going farther and +farther astray, and sacrificing all moral principle to the ghost of +a fleeting and most despicable popularity--to the approval of those +whom he cannot himself approve."</p> +<p>Eric still silent.</p> +<p>"Whatever you do <i>yourself</i>, Williams"--(it was the first +time for two years that Mr. Rose had called him "Williams," and he +winced a little)--"whatever you do <i>yourself</i>, Williams, rests +with <i>you</i>; but remember it is a ten-thousandfold heavier and +more accursed crime to set stumbling-blocks in the way of others, +and abuse your influence to cause any of Christ's little ones to +perish."</p> +<p>"I wasn't the tempter, however," thought Eric, still silent.</p> +<p>"Well, you seem hardened, and give no sign. Believe me, +Williams, I grieve for you, and that bitterly. My interest in you +is no less warm, though my affection for you cannot be the same. +You may go."</p> +<p>"Another friend alienated, and oh, how true a one! He has not +asked me to see him once this term," thought Eric, sadly; but a +shout of pleasure greeted him directly he joined the football in +the play-ground, and, half consoled, he hoped Mr. Rose had heard +it, and understood that was meant for the boy whom he had just been +rebuking. "Well, after all," he thought, "I have <i>some</i> +friends still."</p> +<p>Yes, friends, such as they were! Except Duncan, hardly one boy +whom he really respected ever walked with him now. Even little +Wright, one of the very few lower boys who had risen superior to +Brigson's temptations, seemed to keep clear of him as much as he +could; and, in absolute vacuity, he was obliged to associate with +fellows like Attlay, and Graham, and Llewellyn, and Bull.</p> +<p>Even with Bull! All Eric's repugnance for this boy seemed to +have evaporated; they were often together, and, to all appearance, +were sworn friends. Eric did not shrink now from such conversation +as was pursued unchecked in his presence by nearly every one; nay, +worse, it had lost its horror, and he was neither afraid nor +ashamed to join in it himself. This plague-spot had fretted more +deeply than any other into the heart of the school morality, and +the least boys seemed the greatest proficients in unbaring without +a blush, its hideous ugliness.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> +<br> +<h3>"THE JOLLY HERRING"</h3> +<blockquote>"Velut unda supervenit undam."--VIRGIL.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>The Anti-muffs request the honor of Williams' company to a +spread they are going to have to-morrow evening at half-past four, +in their smoking-room--</p> +<p>A note to this effect was put into Eric's hands by Wildney after +prayers. He read it when he got into his study, and hardly knew +whether to be pleased or disgusted at it.</p> +<p>He tossed it to Duncan, and said, "What shall I do?"</p> +<p>Duncan turned up his nose, and chucked the note into the +fire.</p> +<p>"I'd give them that answer, and no other."</p> +<p>"Why?"</p> +<p>"Because, Eric," said Duncan, with more seriousness than was +usual with him, "I can't help thinking things have gone too far +lately."</p> +<p>"How do you mean?"</p> +<p>"Well, I'm no saint myself, Heaven knows; but I do think that +the fellows are worse now than I have ever known them--far worse. +Your friend Brigson reigns supreme out of the studies; he has laid +down a law that <i>no work</i> is to be done down stairs ever under +any pretence, and it's only by getting into one of the studies that +good little chaps like Wright can get on at all. Even in the +class-rooms there's so much row and confusion that the mere thought +of work is ridiculous."</p> +<p>"Well, there's no great harm in a little noise, if that's +all."</p> +<p>"But it isn't all. The talk of nearly the whole school is +getting most blackguardly; shamelessly so. Only yesterday Wildney +was chatting with Vernon up here (you were out, or Vernon would not +have been here) while I was reading; they didn't seem to mind me, +and I'm sure you'd have been vexed to the heart if you'd heard how +they talked to each other. At last I couldn't stand it any longer, +and bouncing up, I boxed both their ears smartly, and kicked them +down stairs."</p> +<p>As Eric said nothing, Duncan continued, "And I wish it ended in +talk, but----"</p> +<p>"But I believe you're turning Owenite. Why, bless me, we're only +schoolboys; it'll be lots of time to turn saint some other +day."</p> +<p>Eric was talking at random, and in the spirit of opposition. +"You don't want to make the whole school such a muffish set as the +rosebuds, do you?"</p> +<p>There was something of assumed bravado in Eric's whole manner +which jarred on Duncan exceedingly. "Do as you like," he said, +curtly, and went into another study.</p> +<p>Immediately after came a rap at the door, and in walked Wildney, +as he often did after the rest were gone to bed, merely slipping +his trousers over his nightshirt, and running up to the +studies.</p> +<p>"Well, you'll come to the Anti-muffs, won't you?" he said.</p> +<p>"To that pestilential place again?--not I."</p> +<p>Wildney looked offended. "Not after we've all asked you? The +fellows won't half like your refusing."</p> +<p>He had touched Eric's weak point.</p> +<p>"Do come," he said, looking up in Eric's face.</p> +<p>"Confound it all," answered Eric, hastily. "Yes, I've no +friends, I'll come, Charlie. Anything to please you, boy."</p> +<p>"That's a brick. Then I shall cut down and tell the fellows. +They'll be no end glad. No friends! why all the school like you." +And he scampered off, leaving Eric ill at ease.</p> +<p>Duncan didn't re-enter the study that evening.</p> +<p>The next day, about half-past four, Eric found himself on the +way to Ellan. As he was starting, Bull caught him up, and +said--</p> +<p>"Are you going to the Anti-muffs?"</p> +<p>"Yes; why? are you going too?"</p> +<p>"Yes; do you mind our going together?"</p> +<p>"Not at all."</p> +<p>In fact, Eric was very glad of some one--no matter who--to keep +him in countenance, for he felt considerably more than half +ashamed of himself.</p> +<p>They went to "The Jolly Herring," as the pot-house was called, +and passed through the dingy beery tap-room into the back parlor, +to which Eric had already been introduced by Wildney. About a dozen +boys were assembled, and there was a great clapping on the table as +the two new-comers entered. A long table was laid down the room, +which was regularly spread for dinner.</p> +<p>"Now then, Billy; make haste with the goose," called Brigson. "I +vote, boys, that Eric Williams takes the chair."</p> +<p>"Hear! hear!" said half a dozen; and Eric, rather against his +will, found himself ensconced at the end of the table, with Brigson +and Bull on either hand. The villainous-low-foreheaded man, whom +they called Billy, soon brought in a tough goose at one end of the +table, and some fowls at the other; and they fell to, doing ample +justice to the [Greek: daiz heisae] while Billy waited on them. +There was immense uproar during the dinner, every one eating as +fast, and talking as loud, as he could.</p> +<p>The birds soon vanished, and were succeeded by long rolly-polly +puddings, which the boys called Goliahs; and they, too, rapidly +disappeared. Meanwhile beer was circling only too plentifully.</p> +<p>"Now for the dessert, Billy," called several voices; and that +worthy proceeded to put on the table some figs, cakes, oranges, and +four black bottles of wine. There was a general grab for these +dainties, and one boy shouted, "I say, I've had no wine."</p> +<p>"Well, it's all gone. We must get some brandy--it's cheaper," +said Brigson; and accordingly some brandy was brought in, which the +boys diluted with hot water, and soon despatched.</p> +<p>"Here! before you're all done swilling," said Brigson, "I've got +a health; 'Confound muffs and masters, and success to the +anti's.'"</p> +<p>"And their chairman,' suggested Wildney.</p> +<p>"And their chairman, the best fellow in the school," added +Brigson.</p> +<p>The health was drunk with due clamor, and Eric got up to thank +them.</p> +<p>"I'm not going to spout," he said; "but boys must be boys, and +there's no harm in a bit of fun. I for one have enjoyed it, and am +much obliged to you for asking me; and now I call for a song."</p> +<p>"Wildney! Wildney's song," called several.</p> +<p>Wildney had a good voice, and struck up, without the least +bashfulness--</p> +<blockquote>"Come, landlord, fill the flowing bowl,<br> + Until it does run overt<br> +Come, landlord, fill," &c</blockquote> +<p>"Now," he said, "join in the chorus!" The boys, all more or less +excited, joined in heartily and uproariously--</p> +<blockquote>"For to-night we'll merry merry be!<br> +For to-night we'll merry merry be!<br> +For to-night we'll merry merry be!<br> + To-morrow we'll be sober!"</blockquote> +<p>While Wildney sang, Eric had time to think. As he glanced round +the room, at the flushed faces of the boys, some of whom he could +not recognise in the dusky atmosphere, a qualm of disgust and shame +passed over him. Several of them were smoking, and, with Bull and +Brigson heading the line on each, side of the table, he could not +help observing what a bad set they looked. The remembrance of +Russell came back to him. Oh, if Edwin could have known that he was +in such company at such a place! And by the door stood Billy, +watching them all like an evil spirit, with a leer of saturnine +malice on his evil face.</p> +<p>But the bright little Wildney, unconscious of Eric's bitter +thoughts, sang on with overflowing mirth. As Eric looked at him, +shining out like a sunbeam among the rest, he felt something like +blood-guiltiness on his soul, when, he felt that he was sanctioning +the young boy's presence in that degraded assemblage.</p> +<p>Wildney meanwhile was just beginning the next verse, when he was +interrupted by a general cry of "cavé, cavé." In an +instant the room was in confusion; some one dashed the candles upon +the floor, the table was overturned with a mighty crash, and +plates, glasses, and bottles rushed on to the ground in shivers. +Nearly every one bolted for the door, which led through the passage +into the street; and in their headlong flight and selfishness, they +stumbled over each other, and prevented all egress, several being +knocked down and bruised in the crush. Others made for the +tap-room; but, as they opened the door leading into it, there stood +Mr. Ready and Mr. Gordon! and as it was impossible to pass without +being seen, they made no further attempt at escape. All this was +the work of a minute. Entering the back parlor, the two masters +quickly took down the names of full half the boys who, in the +suddenness of the surprise, had been unable to make their exit.</p> +<p>And Eric?</p> +<p>The instant that the candles were knocked over, he felt Wildney +seize his hand, and whisper, "This way all serene;" following, he +groped his way in the dark to the end of the room, where Wildney, +shoving aside a green baize curtain, noiselessly opened a door, +which at once let them into a little garden. There they both +crouched down, under a lilac tree beside the house, and listened +intently.</p> +<p>There was no need for this precaution; their door remained +unsuspected, and in five minutes the coast was clear. Creeping into +the house again, they whistled, and Billy coming in, told them that +the masters had gone, and all was safe.</p> +<p>"Glad ye're not twigged, gen'lmen," he said; "but there'll be a +pretty sight of damage for all this glass and plates."</p> +<p>"Shut up with your glass and plates," said Wildney. "Here, Eric, +we must cut for it again."</p> +<p>It was the dusk of a winter evening when they got out from the +close room into the open air, and they had to consider which way +they would choose to avoid discovery. They happened to choose the +wrong, but escaped by dint of hard running, and Wildney's old short +cut. As they ran they passed several boys (who having been caught, +were walking home leisurely), and managed to get back undiscovered, +when they both answered their names quite innocently at the +roll-call, immediately after lock up.</p> +<p>"What lucky dogs you are to get off," said many boys to +them.</p> +<p>"Yes, it's precious lucky for me," said Wildney. "If I'd been +caught at this kind of thing a second time, I should have got +something worse than a swishing."</p> +<p>"Well, it's all through you I escaped," said Eric, "you knowing +little scamp."</p> +<p>"I'm glad of it, Eric," said Wildney in his fascinating way, +"since it is all through me you went. It's rather too hazardous +though; we must manage better another time."</p> +<p>During tea-time Eric was silent, as he felt pretty sure that +none of the sixth form or other study boys would particularly +sympathise with his late associates. Since the previous evening he +had been cool with Duncan, and the rest had long rather despised +him as a boy who'd do anything to be popular; so he sat there +silent, looking as disdainful as he could, and not touching the +tea, for which he felt disinclined after the recent potations. But +the contemptuous exterior hid a self-reproving heart, and he felt +how far more noble Owen and Montagu were than he. How gladly would +he have changed places with them! how much he would have given to +recover some of their forfeited esteem!</p> +<p>The master on duty was Mr. Rose, and after tea he left the room +for a few minutes while the tables were cleared for "preparation," +and the boys were getting out their books and exercises. All the +study and class-room boys were expected to go away during this +interval; but Eric, not noticing Mr. Rose's entrance, sat +gossipping with Wildney about the dinner and its possible +consequences to the school.</p> +<p>He was sitting on the desk carelessly, with one leg over the +other, and bending down towards Wildney. He had just told him that +he looked like a regular little sunbeam in the smoking-room of the +Jolly Herring, and Wildney was pretending to be immensely offended +by the simile.</p> +<p>"Hush! no more talking," said Mr. Rose, who did everything very +gently and quietly. Eric heard him, but he was inclined to linger, +and had always received such mild treatment from Mr. Rose, that he +didn't think he would take much notice of the delay. For the moment +he did not, so Wildney began to chatter again.</p> +<p>"All study boys to leave the room," said Mr. Rose.</p> +<p>Eric just glanced round and moved slightly; he might have gone +away, but that he caught a satirical look in Wildney's eye, and +besides wanted to show off a little indifference to his old master, +with whom he had had no intercourse since their last-mentioned +conversation.</p> +<p>"Williams, go away instantly; what do you mean by staying after +I have dismissed you?" said Mr. Rose sternly.</p> +<p>Every one knew what a favorite Eric had once been, so this +speech created a slight titter. The boy heard it just as he was +going out of the room, and it annoyed him, and called to arms all +his proud and dogged obstinacy. Pretending to have forgotten +something, he walked conceitedly back to Wildney, and whispered to +him, "I shan't go if he chooses to speak like that."</p> +<p>A red flush passed over Mr. Rose's cheek; he took two strides to +Eric, and laid the cane sharply once across his back.</p> +<p>Eric was not quite himself, or he would not have acted as he had +done. His potations, though not deep, had, with the exciting events +of the evening, made his head giddy, and the stroke of the cane, +which he had not felt now for two years, roused him to madness. He +bounded up, sprang towards Mr. Rose, and almost before he knew what +he was about, had wrenched the cane out of his hands, twisted it +violently in the middle until it broke, and flung one of the pieces +furiously into the fire.</p> +<p>For one instant, boy and master--Eric Williams and Mr. +Rose--stood facing each other amid breathless silence, the boy +panting and passionate, with his brain swimming, and his heart on +fire; the master pale, grieved, amazed beyond measure, but +perfectly self-collected.</p> +<p>"After that exhibition," said Mr. Rose, with cold and quiet +dignity, "you had better leave the room."</p> +<p>"Yes, I had," answered Eric bitterly; "there's your cane." And, +flinging the other fragment at Mr. Rose's head, he strode blindly +out of the room, sweeping books from the table, and overturning +several boys in his way. He then banged the door with all his +force, and rushed up into his study.</p> +<p>Duncan was there, and remarking his wild look and demeanor, +asked, after a moment's awkward silence, "Is anything the matter, +Williams?"</p> +<p>"Williams!" echoed Eric with a scornful laugh; "yes, that's +always the way with a fellow when he's in trouble. I always know +what's coming when you begin to leave off calling me by my +Christian name."</p> +<p>"Very well, then," said Duncan, good-humoredly, "what's the +matter, Eric?"</p> +<p>"Matter?" answered Brie, pacing up and down the little room with +an angry to-and-fro like a caged wild beast, and kicking everything +which came in his way. "Matter? hang you all, you are all turning +against me, because you are a set of muffs, and----"</p> +<p>"Take care!" said Duncan; but suddenly he caught Eric's look, +and stopped.</p> +<p>"And I've been breaking Rose's cane over his head, because he +had the impudence to touch, me with it, and----"</p> +<p>"Eric, you're not yourself to-night," said Duncan, interrupting, +but speaking in the kindest tone; and taking Eric's hand, he looked +him steadily in the face.</p> +<p>Their eyes met; the boy's false self once more slipped off. By a +strong effort he repressed the rising passion which the fumes of +drink had caused, and flinging him self on his chair, refused to +speak again, or even to go down stairs when the prayer-bell +rang.</p> +<p>Seeing that in his present mood there was nothing to be done +with him, Duncan, instead of returning to the study, went after +prayers into Montagu's, and talked with him over the recent events, +of which the boys' minds were all full.</p> +<p>But Eric sat lonely, sulky, and miserable, in his study, doing +nothing, and when Montagu came in to visit him, felt inclined to +resent his presence.</p> +<p>"So!" he said, looking up at the ceiling, "another saint come to +cast a stone at me! Well! I suppose I must be resigned," he +continued, dropping his cheek on his hand again; "only don't let +the sermon be long."</p> +<p>But Montagu took no notice of his sardonic harshness, and seated +himself by his side, though Eric pettishly pushed him away.</p> +<p>"Come, Eric," said Montagu, taking the hand which was repelling +him; "I won't be repulsed in this way. Look at me. What? won't you +even look? Oh Eric, one wouldn't have fancied this in past days, +when we were so much together with one who is dead. It's a long +long time since we've eyen alluded to him, but <i>I</i> shall never +forget those happy days."</p> +<p>Eric heaved a deep sigh.</p> +<p>"I'm not come to reproach you. You don't give me a friend's +right to reprove. But still, Eric, for your own sake, dear fellow, +I can't help being sorry for all this. I did hope you'd have broken +with Brigson after the thrashing I gave him, for the way in which +he treated me. I don't think you <i>can</i> know the mischief he is +doing."</p> +<p>The large tears began to soften the fire of Eric's eye, "Ah!" he +said, "it's all of no use; you're all giving me the cold shoulder, +and I'm going to the bad, that's the long and short of it."</p> +<p>"Oh, Eric! for your own sake, for your parents' sake, for the +school's sake, for all your real friends' sake, don't talk in that +bitter hopeless way. You are too noble a fellow to be made the tool +or the patron of the boys who lead, while they seem to follow you. +I <i>do</i> hope you'll join us even yet in resisting them."</p> +<p>Eric had laid his head on the table, which shook with his +emotion. "I can't talk, Monty," he said, in an altered tone; "but +leave me now; and if you like, we will have a walk to-morrow."</p> +<p>"Most willingly, Eric." And again, warmly pressing his hand, +Montagu returned to his own study.</p> +<p>Soon after, there came a timid knock at Eric's door. He expected +Wildney as usual; a little before, he had been looking out for him, +and hoping he would come, but he didn't want to see him now, so he +answered rather peevishly, "Come in; but I don't want to be +bothered to-night."</p> +<p>Not Wildney, but Vernon appeared at the door. "May I come in? +not if it bothers you, Eric," he said, gently.</p> +<p>"Oh, Verny, I didn't know it was you; I thought it would be +Wildney. You <i>never</i> come now."</p> +<p>The little boy came in, and his pleading look seemed to say, +"Whose fault is that?"</p> +<p>"Come here, Verny;" and Eric drew him towards him, and put him +on his knee, while the tears trembled large and luminous in the +child's eyes.</p> +<p>It was the first time for many a long day that the brothers had +been alone together, the first time for many a long day that any +acts of kindness had passed between them. Both seemed to remember +this, and, at the same time, to remember home, and their absent +parents, and their mother's prayers, and all the quiet +half-forgotten vista of innocent pleasures, and sacred +relationships, and holy affections. And why did they see each other +so little at school? Their consciences told them both, that either +wished to conceal from the other his wickedness and forgetfulness +of God.</p> +<p>They wept together; and once more, as they had not done since +they were children, each brother put his arm round the other's +neck, and remorseful Eric could not help being amazed, how, in his +cruel heartless selfishness, he had let that fair child go so far +astray; left him as a prey to such boys as were his companions in +the lower school.</p> +<p>"Eric, did you know I was caught to-night at the dinner?"</p> +<p>"You!" said Brie, with a start and a deep blush. "Good heavens! +I didn't notice you, and should not have dreamt of coming, if I'd +known you were there. Oh, Vernon, forgive me for setting you such, +a bad example."</p> +<p>"Yes, I was there, and I was caught."</p> +<p>"Poor boy! but never mind; there are such a lot that you can't +get much done to you."</p> +<p>"It isn't <i>that</i> I care for; I've been flogged before, you +know. But--may I say something?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Vernon, anything you like."</p> +<p>"Well, then,--oh, Eric! I am so, so sorry that you did that to +Mr. Rose to-night. All the fellows are praising you up, of course; +but I could have cried to see it, and I did. I wouldn't have minded +if it had been anybody but Rose."</p> +<p>"But why?"</p> +<p>"Because, Eric, he's been so good, so kind to both of us. You've +often told me about him, you know, at Fairholm, and he's done such, +lots of kind things to me. And only to-night, when he heard I was +caught, he sent for me to the library, and spoke so firmly, yet so +gently, about the wickedness of going to such low places, and about +so young a boy as I am learning to drink, and the ruin of it +and--and"--His voice was choked by sobs for a time,--"and then he +knelt down and prayed for me, so as I have never heard any one pray +but mother;--and do you know, Eric, it was strange, but I thought I +<i>did</i> hear our mother's voice praying for me too, while he +prayed, and"--He tried in vain to go on; but Eric's conscience +continued for him; "and just as he had ceased doing this for one +brother, the other brother, for whom he has often done the same, +treated him with coarseness, violence, and insolence."</p> +<p>"Oh, I am utterly wretched, Verny. I hate myself And to think +that while I am like this, they are yet loving and praising me at +home. And, oh, Verny, I was so sorry to hear from Duncan, how you +were talking the other day."</p> +<p>Vernon hid his face on Eric's shoulder; and as his brother +stooped over him, and folded him to his heart, they cried in +silence, until wearied with sorrow, the younger fell asleep; and +then Eric carried him tenderly down stairs, and laid him, still +half-sleeping, upon his bed.</p> +<p>He laid him down, and looked at him as he slumbered. The other +boys had not been disturbed by their noiseless entrance, and he sat +down on his brother's bed to think, shading off the light of the +candle with his hand. It was rarely now that Eric's thoughts were +so rich with the memories of childhood, and sombre with the +consciousness of sin, as they were that night, while he gazed on +his brother Vernon's face. He did not know what made him look so +long and earnestly; an indistinct sorrow, an unconjectured +foreboding, passed over his mind, like the shadow of a summer +cloud. Vernon was now slumbering deeply; his soft childish curls +fell off his forehead, and his head nestled in the pillow; but +there was an expression of uneasiness on his sleeping features, and +the long eyelashes were still wet with tears.</p> +<p>"Poor child," thought Eric; "dear little Vernon; and he is to be +flogged, perhaps birched, to-morrow."</p> +<p>He went off sadly to bed, and hardly once remembered, that +<i>he</i> too would come in for certain punishment the next +day.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<br> +<h3>MR. ROSE AND BRIGSON</h3> +<blockquote>"Raro antecedentem scelestum<br> +Deseruit pede Poena claudo."--HOR.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>After prayers the next morning Dr. Rowlands spoke to his +boarders on the previous day's discovery, and in a few forcible +vivid words set before them, the enormity of the offence. He ended +by announcing that the boys who were caught would be +birched,--"except the elder ones, Bull and Brigson, who will bring +me one hundred lines every hour of the half-holidays till further +notice. There are some," he said, "I am well aware, who, though +present yesterday, were not detected. I am sorry for it, for +<i>their</i> sakes; they will be more likely to sin again. In cases +like this, punishment is a blessing, and impunity a burden." On +leaving the room he bade Eric follow him into his study. Eric +obeyed, and stood before the head-master with downcast eyes.</p> +<p>"Williams," he said, "I have had a great regard for you, and +felt a deep interest in you from the day I first saw you, and knew +your excellent parents. At one time I had conceived great hopes of +your future course, and your abilities seemed likely to blossom +into noble fruit. But you fell off greatly, and grew idle and +careless. At last an event happened, in which for a time you acted +worthily of yourself, and which seemed to arouse you from your +negligence and indifference. All my hopes in you revived; but as I +continued to watch your course (more closely, perhaps, than you +supposed), I observed with pain that those hopes must be again +disappointed. It needs but a glance at your countenance to be sure +that you are not so upright or right-minded a boy as you were two +years ago. I can judge only from your outward course; but I deeply +fear, Williams, I deeply fear, that in <i>other</i> respects also +you are going the down-hill road. And what am I to think now, when +on the <i>same</i> morning, you and your little brother <i>both</i> +come before me for such serious and heavy faults? I cannot free you +from blame even for <i>his</i> misdoings, for you are his natural +guardian here; I am only glad that you were not involved with him +in that charge."</p> +<p>"Let <i>me</i> bear the punishment, sir, instead of him," said +Eric, by a sudden impulse; "for I misled him, and was there +myself."</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands paced the room in deep sorrow. "You, Williams! on +the verge of the sixth form. Alas! I fear, from this, that the +state of things among you is even worse than I had supposed."</p> +<p>Eric again hung his head.</p> +<p>"No; you have confessed the sin voluntarily, and therefore at +present I shall not notice it; only, let me entreat you to beware. +But I must turn to the other matter. What excuse have you for your +intolerable conduct to Mr. Rose, who, as I know, has shown you from +the first the most unusual and disinterested kindness?"</p> +<p>"I cannot defend myself, sir. I was excited, and could not +control my passion."</p> +<p>"Then you must sit down here, and write an apology, which I +shall make you read aloud before the whole school at twelve +to-day."</p> +<p>Eric, with trembling hand, wrote his apology, and Dr Rowlands +glanced at it. "Come to me again at twelve," he said.</p> +<p>At twelve all the school were assembled, and Eric, pale and +miserable, followed the Doctor into the great school-room. The +masters stood at one end of the room, and among them Mr. Rose, who, +however, appeared an indifferent and uninterested spectator of the +transaction. Every eye was fixed on Eric, and every one pitied +him.</p> +<p>"We are assembled," said Dr. Rowlands, "for an act of justice. +One of your number has insulted a master publicly, and is ashamed +of his conduct, and has himself written the apology which he will +read. I had intended to add a still severer punishment, but Mr. +Rose has earnestly begged me not to do so, and I have succumbed to +his wishes. Williams, read your apology."</p> +<p>There was a dead hush, and Eric tried once or twice in vain to +utter a word. At last, by a spasmodic effort, he regained his +voice, and read, but in so low and nervous a tone, that not even +those nearest him heard what he was saying.</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands took the paper from him. "Owing," he said, "to a +very natural and pardonable emotion, the apology has been read in +such a way that you could not have understood it. I will therefore +read it myself. It is to this effect--</p> +<p>"'I, Eric Williams, beg humbly and sincerely to apologise for my +passionate and ungrateful insult to Mr. Rose.'</p> +<p>"You will understand that he was left quite free to choose his +own expressions; and as he has acknowledged his shame and +compunction for the act, I trust that none of you will be tempted +to elevate him into a hero, for a folly which he himself so much +regrets. This affair,--as I should wish all bad deeds to be after +they have once been punished,--will now be forgiven, and I hope +forgotten."</p> +<p>They left the room and dispersed, and Eric fancied that all +shunned and looked coldly on his degradation But not so: Montagu +came, and taking his arm in the old friendly way, went a walk with +him. It was a constrained and silent walk, and they were both glad +when it was over, although Montagu did all he could to show that he +loved Eric no less than before. Still it was weeks since they had +been much together, and they had far fewer things in common now +than they used to have.</p> +<p>"I'm so wretched, Monty," said Eric at last; "do you think Rose +despises me?"</p> +<p>"I am <i>sure</i> of the contrary. Won't you go to him, Eric, +and say all you feel?"</p> +<p>"Heigh ho! I shall never get right again. Oh, to recover the +last two years!"</p> +<p>"You can redeem them, Eric, by a nobler present. Let the same +words comfort you that have often brought hope to me--'I will +restore the years which the locust hath eaten.'"</p> +<p>They reached the school-door, and Eric went straight to the +library. Mr. Rose was there alone. He received him kindly, as +usual, and Eric went up to the fire-place where he was standing. +They had often stood by that library fire on far different +terms.</p> +<p>"Forgive me, sir," was all Eric could say, as the tears rushed +to his eyes.</p> +<p>"Freely, my boy," said Mr. Rose, sadly. "I wish you could feel +how fully I forgive you; but," he added, laying his hand for the +last time on Eric's head, "you have far more, Eric, to forgive +yourself. I will not talk to you, Eric; it would be little good, I +fear; but you little know how much I pity and tremble for you."</p> +<p>While these scenes were being enacted with Eric, a large group +was collected round the fire-place in the boarders' room, and many +tongues were loudly discussing the recent events.</p> +<p>Alas for gratitude! there was not a boy in that group to whom +Mr. Rose had not done many an act of kindness; and to most of them +far more than they ever knew. Many a weary hour had he toiled for +them in private, when his weak frame was harassed by suffering; +many a sleepless night had he wrestled for them in prayer, when, +for their sakes, his own many troubles were laid aside. Work on, +Walter Rose, and He who seeth in secret will reward you openly! but +expect no gratitude from those for whose salvation you, like the +great tenderhearted apostle, would almost be ready to wish yourself +accursed.</p> +<p>Nearly every one in that noisy group was abusing Mr. Rose. It +had long been Brigson's cue to do so; he derided him on every +opportunity, and delighted to represent him as hypocritical and +insincere. Even his weak health was the subject of Brigson's coarse +ridicule, and the bad boy paid, in deep hatred, the natural tribute +which vice must ever accord to excellence.</p> +<p>"You see how he turns on his pets if they offend him," said +Brigson; "why, even that old beast Gordon isn't as bad."</p> +<p>"Yes; while poor Eric was reading, Rose reminded me of Milton's +serpent," drawled Bull;</p> +<blockquote>"Hope elevates and joy brightens his +crest."</blockquote> +<p>"He-e-ar! He-e-ar!" said Pietrie; "<i>vide</i> the last fifth +form Rep."</p> +<p>"I expect Eric won't see everything so much <i>couleur de +Rose</i> now, as the French frog hath it," remarked Graham.</p> +<p>"It was too bad to stand by and triumph, certainly," observed +Wildney.</p> +<p>"I say, you fellows," remonstrated Wright, who, with Vernon, was +sitting reading a book at one of the desks, "all that isn't fair. +I'm sure you all saw how really sorry Rose looked about it; and he +said, you know, that it was merely for the sake of school +discipline that he put the matter in Rowlands' hands."</p> +<p>"Discipline be hanged," shouted Brigson; "we'll have our revenge +on him yet, discipline or no."</p> +<p>"I hope you won't, though," said Vernon; "I know Eric will be +sorry if you do."</p> +<p>"The more muff he. We shall do as we like."</p> +<p>"Well, I shall tell him; and I'm sure he'll ask you not. You +know how he tries to stick up for Rose."</p> +<p>"If you say a word more," said Brigson, unaccustomed to being +opposed among his knot of courtiers, "I'll kick you out of the +room; you and that wretched little fool there with you."</p> +<p>"You may do as you like," answered Wright, quietly, "but you +won't go on like this long, I can tell you."</p> +<p>Brigson tried to seize him, but failing, contented himself with +flinging a big coal at him as he ran out of the room, which +narrowly missed his head.</p> +<p>"I have it!" said Brigson; "that little donkey's given me an +idea. We'll <i>crust</i> Rose to-night."</p> +<p>"To crust," gentle reader, means to pelt an obnoxious person +with crusts.</p> +<p>"Capital!" said some of the worst boys present; "we will."</p> +<p>"Well, who'll take part?"</p> +<p>No one offered. "What! are we all turning sneaks and cowards? +Here, Wildney, won't you? you were abusing Rose just now."</p> +<p>"Yes, I will," said Wildney, but with no great alacrity. "You'll +not have done till you've got us all expelled, I believe."</p> +<p>"Fiddle-stick end! and what if we are? besides, he can't expel +half the school."</p> +<p>First two or three more offered, and then a whole lot, gaining +courage by numbers. So the plot was regularly laid. Pietrie and +Graham were to put out the lights at each end of one table +immediately after tea, and Wildney and Brooking at the other, when +the study fellows had gone out. There would then be only Mr. Rose's +candle burning, and the two middle candles, which, in so large a +room, would just give enough light for their purpose. Then all the +conspirators were to throng around the door, and from it aim their +crusts at Mr. Rose's head, Not nearly so many would have +volunteered to join, but that they fancied Mr. Rose was too gentle +to take up the matter with vigor, and they were encouraged by his +quiet leniency towards Eric the night before. It was agreed that no +study-boy should be told of the intention, lest any of them should +interfere.</p> +<p>Many hearts beat fast at tea that night as they observed that +numbers of boys, instead of eating all their bread, were cutting +off the crusts, and breaking them into good-sized bits.</p> +<p>Tea finished, Mr. Rose said grace, and then sat down quietly +reading in his desk. The signal agreed on was the (accidental) +dropping of a plate by Brigson. The study-boys left the room.</p> +<p>Crash!--down fell a plate on the floor, breaking to pieces in +the fall.</p> +<p>Instantly the four candles went out, and there was a hurried +movement towards the door, and a murmur of voices.</p> +<p>"Now then," said Brigson, in a loud whisper, "what a funky set +you are! Here goes?"</p> +<p>The master, surprised at the sudden gloom and confusion, had +just looked up, unable to conjecture what was the matter. Brigson's +crust caught him a sharp rap on the forehead as he moved.</p> +<p>In an instant he started up, and ten or twelve more crusts flew +by or hit him on the head, as he strode out of the desk towards the +door. Directly he stirred, there was a rush of boys into the +passage, and if he had once lost his judgment or temper, worse harm +might have followed. But he did not. Going to the door, he said, +"Preparation will be in five minutes; every boy not then in his +place will be punished."</p> +<p>During that five minutes the servants had cleared away the tea, +full of wonder; but Mr. Rose paced up and down the room, taking no +notice of any one. Immediately after, all the boys were in their +places, with their books open before them, and in the thrilling +silence you might have heard a pin drop. Every one felt that Mr. +Rose was master of the occasion, and awaited his next step in +terrified suspense.</p> +<p>They all perceived how thoroughly they had mistaken their +subject. The ringleaders would have given all they had to be well +out of the scrape. Mr. Rose ruled by kindness, but he never +suffered his will to be disputed for an instant. He governed with +such consummate tact, that they hardly felt it to be government at +all, and hence arose their stupid miscalculation. But he felt that +the time was now come to assert his paramount authority, and +determined to do so at once and for ever.</p> +<p>"Some of you have mistaken me," he said, in a voice so strong +and stern that it almost startled them. "The silly display of +passion in one boy yesterday has led you to presume that you may +trifle with me. You are wrong. For Williams' sake, as a boy who +has, or at least once <i>had</i>, something noble in him, I left +that matter in the Doctor's hands. I shall <i>not</i> do so +to-night. Which of you put out the candles?"</p> +<p>Dead silence. A pause.</p> +<p>"Which of you had the audacity to throw pieces of bread at +me?"</p> +<p>Still silence.</p> +<p>"I warn you that I <i>will</i> know, and it will be far worse +for the guilty if I do not know at once." There was unmistakeable +decision in the tone.</p> +<p>"Very well. I know many boys who were <i>not</i> guilty because +I saw them in parts of the room where to throw was impossible. I +shall now <i>ask</i> all the rest, one by one, if they took any +part in this. And beware of telling me a lie."</p> +<p>There was an uneasy sensation in the room, and several boys +began to whisper aloud, "Brigson! Brigson!" The whisper grew +louder, and Mr. Rose heard it. He turned on Brigson like a lion, +and said--</p> +<p>"They call your name; stand out!"</p> +<p>The awkward, big, ungainly boy, with his repulsive countenance, +shambled out of his place into the middle of the room. Mr. Rose +swept him with one flashing glance. "<i>That</i> is the boy," +thought he to himself, "who has been like an ulcer to this school. +These boys shall have a good look at their hero." It was but +recently that Mr. Rose knew all the harm which Brigson had been +doing, though he had discovered, almost from the first, what +<i>sort</i> of character he had.</p> +<p>So Brigson stood out in the room, and as they looked at him, +many a boy cursed him in their hearts for evil taught them, such as +a lifetime's struggle could not unteach. And it was <i>that</i> +fellow, that stupid, clumsy, base compound of meanness and malice, +that had ruled like a king among them. Faugh!</p> +<p>"They call your name! Do you know anything of this?"</p> +<p>"No!" said Brigson; "I'll swear I'd nothing to do with it."</p> +<p>"Oh-h-h-h!" the long, intense, deep-drawn expression of disgust +and contempt ran round the room.</p> +<p>"You have told me a lie!" said Mr. Rose, slowly, and with +ineffable contempt. "No words can express my loathing for your +false and dishonorable conduct. Nor shall your lie save you, as you +shall find immediately. Still, you shall escape if you can or dare +to deny it again. I repeat my question--Were you engaged in +this?"</p> +<p>He fixed his full, piercing eye on the culprit, whom it seemed +to scorch and wither. Brigson winced back, and said nothing. "As I +thought," said Mr. Rose.</p> +<p>"Not <i>one</i> boy only, but many, were engaged. I shall call +you up one by one to answer me. Wildney, come here."</p> +<p>The boy walked in front of the desk.</p> +<p>"Were you one of those who threw?"</p> +<p>Wildney, full as he was of dangerous and deadly faults, was no +coward, and not a liar. He knew, or at least feared, that this new +scrape might be fatal to him, but, raising his dark and glistening +eyes to Mr. Rose, he said penitently--</p> +<p>"I didn't throw, sir, but I <i>did</i> put out one of the +candles that it might be done."</p> +<p>The contrast with Brigson was very great; the dark cloud hung a +little less darkly on Mr. Rose's forehead, and there was a very +faint murmur of applause.</p> +<p>"Good! stand back. Pietrie, come up."</p> +<p>Pietrie, too, confessed, and indeed all the rest of the plotters +except Brooking. Mr. Rose's lip curled with scorn as he heard the +exclamation which his denial caused; but he suffered him to sit +down.</p> +<p>When Wright's turn came to be asked, Mr. Rose said--"No! I shall +not even ask you, Wright. I know well that your character is too +good to be involved in such an attempt."</p> +<p>The boy bowed humbly, and sat down. Among the last questioned +was Vernon Williams, and Mr. Rose seemed anxious for his +answer.</p> +<p>"No," he said at once,--and seemed to wish to add something.</p> +<p>"Go on," said Mr. Rose, encouragingly.</p> +<p>"Oh, sir! I only wanted to say that I hope you won't think Eric +knew of this. He would have hated it, sir, more even than I +do."</p> +<p>"Good," said Mr. Rose; "I am sure of it. And now," turning to +the offenders, "I shall teach you never to dare again to be guilty +of such presumption and wickedness as to-night. I shall punish you +according to my notion of your degrees of guilt. Brigson, bring me +a cane from that desk."</p> +<p>He brought it.</p> +<p>"Hold out your hand."</p> +<p>The cane fell, and instantly split up from top to bottom. Mr. +Rose looked at it, for it was new that morning.</p> +<p>"Hah! I see; more mischief; there is a hair in it."</p> +<p>The boys were too much frightened to smile at the complete +success of the trick.</p> +<p>"Who did this? I must be told at once."</p> +<p>"I did, sir," said Wildney, stepping forward.</p> +<p>"Ha! very well," said Mr. Rose, while, in spite of his anger, a +smile hovered at the corner of his lips. "Go and borrow me a cane +from Mr. Harley."</p> +<p>While he went there was unbroken silence.</p> +<p>"Now, sir," said he to Brigson, "I shall flog you."</p> +<p>Corporal punishment was avoided with the bigger boys, and +Brigson had never undergone it before. At the first stroke he +writhed and yelled; at the second he retreated, twisting like a +serpent, and blubbering like a baby; at the third he flung himself +on his knees, and, as the strokes fell fast, clasped Mr. Rose's +arm, and implored and besought for mercy.</p> +<p>"<i>Miserable</i> coward," said Mr. Rose, throwing into the word +such ringing scorn that no one who heard it ever forgot it. He +indignantly shook the boy off, and caned him till he rolled on the +floor, losing every particle of self-control, and calling out, "The +devil--the devil--the devil!" ("invoking his patron saint," as +Wildney maliciously observed).</p> +<p>"There! cease to blaspheme, and get up," said the master, +blowing out a cloud of fiery indignation. "There, sir. Retribution +comes at last, leaden-footed but iron-handed. A long catalogue of +sins is visited on you to-day, and not only on your shrinking body, +but on your conscience too, if you have one left. Let those red +marks betoken that your reign is ended. Liar and tempter, you have +led boys into the sins which you then meanly deny! And now, you +boys, <i>there</i> in that coward, who cannot even endure his +richly-merited punishment, see the boy whom you have suffered to be +your <i>leader</i> for well-nigh six months!"</p> +<p>"Now, sir"--again he turned upon Brigson--"that flogging shall +be repeated with interest on your next offence. At present you will +take each boy on your back while I cane him. It is fit that they +should see where <i>you</i> lead them to."</p> +<p>Trembling violently, and cowed beyond description, he did as he +was bid. No other boy cried, or even winced; a few sharp cuts was +all which Mr. Rose gave them, and even they grew fewer each time, +for he was tired, and displeased to be an executioner.</p> +<p>"And now," he said, "since that disgusting but necessary scene +is over, <i>never</i> let me have to repeat it again."</p> +<p>But his authority was established like a rock from that night +forward. No one ever ventured to dispute it again, or forgot that +evening. Mr. Rose's noble moral influence gained tenfold strength +from the respect and wholesome fear that he then inspired.</p> +<p>But, as he had said, Brigson's reign was over. Looks of the most +unmitigated disgust and contempt were darted at him, as he sat +alone and shunned at the end of the table; and the boys seemed now +to loathe and nauseate the golden calf they had been worshipping. +He had not done blubbering even yet, when the prayer-bell rang. No +sooner had Mr. Rose left the room than Wildney, his dark eyes +sparkling with rage, leaped on the table, and shouted--</p> +<p>"Three groans, hoots, and hisses, for a liar and a coward," a +sign of execration which he was the first to lead off, and which +the boys echoed like a storm.</p> +<p>Astonished at the tumult, Mr. Rose re-appeared at the door. "Oh, +we're not hissing you, sir," said Wildney excitedly; "we're all +hissing at lying and cowardice."</p> +<p>Mr. Rose thought the revulsion of feeling might do good, and he +was striding out again, without a word, when--</p> +<p>"Three times three for Mr. Rose," sang out Wildney.</p> +<p>Never did a more hearty or spontaneous cheer burst from the lips +and lungs of fifty boys than that. The news had spread like +wildfire to the studies, and the other boys came flocking in during +the uproar, to join in it heartily. Cheer after cheer rang out like +a sound of silver clarions from the clear boy-voices; and in the +midst of the excited throng stood Eric and Montagu, side by side, +hurrahing more lustily than all the rest.</p> +<p>But Mr. Rose, in the library, was on his knees, with moving lips +and lifted hands. He coveted the popular applause as little as he +had dreaded the popular opposition; and the evening's painful +experiences had taught him anew the bitter lesson to expect no +gratitude, and hope for no reward, but simply, and contentedly, and +unmurmuringly, to work on in God's vineyard so long as life and +health should last.</p> +<p>Brigson's brazen forehead bore him through the disgrace which +would have crushed another. But still he felt that his position at +Roslyn could never be what it had been before, and he therefore +determined to leave at once. By grossly calumniating the school, he +got his father to remove him, and announced, to every one's great +delight, that he was going in a fortnight. On his last day, by way +of bravado, he smashed and damaged as much of the school property +as he could, a proceeding which failed to gain him any admiration, +and merely put his father to ruinous expense.</p> +<p>The day after his exposure Eric had cut him dead, without the +least pretence of concealment; an example pretty generally followed +throughout the school.</p> +<p>In the evening Brigson went up to Eric and hissed in his ear, +"You cut me, curse you; but, <i>never fear, I'll be revenged on you +yet</i>."</p> +<p>"Do your worst," answered Eric, contemptuously, "and never speak +to me again."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> +<br> +<h3>RIPPLES</h3> +<blockquote>"Our echoes roll from soul to soul,<br> +And live for ever and for ever."--TENNYSON.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>Owen and Montagu were walking by Silverburn, and talking over +the affairs of the school. During their walk they saw Wright and +Vernon Williams in front of them.</p> +<p>"I am so glad to see those two together," said Montagu; "I +really think Wright is one of the best little fellows in the +school, and he'll be the saving of Vernon. He's already persuaded +him to leave off smoking and other bad things, and has got him to +work a little harder, and turn over a new leaf altogether."</p> +<p>"Yes," answered Owen; "I've seen a marvellous improvement in +little Williams lately. I think that Duncan gave him a rough lesson +the other night which did him good, and dear old Rose too has been +leading him by the hand; but the best thing is that, through +Wright, he sees less of Eric's <i>friend</i>, that young scapegrace +Wildney."</p> +<p>"Yes; that little wretch has a good deal to answer for. What a +pity that Eric spoils him so, or rather suffers himself to be +spoilt by him. I'm glad Vernon's escaped his influence now; he's +too fine a boy to be made as bad as the general run of them. What a +brilliant little fellow he is; just like his brother."</p> +<p>"Just like what his brother <i>was</i>," said Owen; "his face, +like his mind, has suffered lately."</p> +<p>"Too true," answered Montagu, with a sigh; "and yet, cool as we +now are in our outward intercourse, he little knows how I love him, +and yearn for the Eric I once knew. Would to God poor Russell had +lived, and then I believe that Williams wouldn't have gone so for +wrong."</p> +<p>"Well, I think there's another chance for him now +that--that--what name is bad enough, for that Brigson?--is +gone."</p> +<p>"I hope so. But"--he added after a pause--"his works do follow +him. Look there!" He took a large stone and threw it into the +Silverburn stream; there was a great splash, and then ever-widening +circles of blue ripple broke the surface of the water, dying away +one by one in the sedges on the bank. "There," he said, "see how +long those ripples last, and how numerous they are."</p> +<p>Owen understood him. "Poor Williams! What a gleam of new hope +there was in him after Russell's death!"</p> +<p>"Yes, for a time," said Montagu; "heigh ho! I fear we shall +never be warm friends again. We can't be while he goes on as he is +doing. And yet I love him."</p> +<p>A sudden turn of the stream brought them to the place called +Riverbend.</p> +<p>"If you want a practical comment on what we've been talking +about, you'll see it there," said Montagu.</p> +<p>He pointed to a party of boys, four or five, all lying on a +pleasant grass bank, smoking pipes. Prominent among them was Eric, +stretched at ease, and looking up at the clouds, towards which +curled the puffed fumes of his meerschaum--a gift of Wildney's. +That worthy was beside him similarly employed.</p> +<p>The two sixth-form boys hoped to pass by unobserved, as they did +not wish for a rencontre with our hero under such circumstances. +But they saw Wildney pointing to them, and, from the fits of +laughter which followed his remarks, they had little doubt that +they were the subject of the young gentleman's wit. This is never a +pleasant sensation; but they observed that Eric made a point of not +looking their way, and went on in silence.</p> +<p>"How very sad!" said Montagu.</p> +<p>"How very contemptible!" said Owen.</p> +<p>"Did you observe what they were doing?"</p> +<p>"Smoking?"</p> +<p>"Worse than that a good deal. They were doing something which, +if Eric doesn't take care, will one day be his ruin."</p> +<p>"What?"</p> +<p>"I saw them drinking. I have little doubt it was brandy."</p> +<p>"Good heavens!"</p> +<p>"It is getting a common practice with some fellows. One of the +ripples, you see, of Brigson's influence."</p> +<p>Before they got home they caught up Wright and Vernon, and +walked in together.</p> +<p>"We've been talking," said Wright, "about a bad matter. Vernon +here says that there's no good working for a prize in his form, +because the cribbing's so atrocious. Indeed, it's very nearly as +bad in my form. It always is under Gordon; he <i>can't</i> +understand fellows doing dishonorable things."</p> +<p>"It's a great bore in the weekly examinations," said Vernon; +"every now and then Gordon will even leave the room for a few +minutes, and then out come dozens of books."</p> +<p>"Well, Wright," said Montagu, "if that happens again next +examination, I'd speak out about it."</p> +<p>"How?"</p> +<p>"Why, I'd get every fellow who disapproves of it to give me his +name, and get up and read the list, and say that you at least have +pledged yourselves not to do it."</p> +<p>"Humph! I don't know how that would answer. They'd half kill me +for one thing."</p> +<p>"Never mind; do your duty. I wish I'd such an opportunity, if +only to show how sorry I am for my own past unfairness."</p> +<p>And so talking, the four went in, and the two elder went to +their study.</p> +<p>It was too true that drinking had become a common vice at Roslyn +school. Accordingly, when Eric came in with Wildney about half an +hour after, Owen and Montagu heard them talk about ordering some +brandy, and then arrange to have a "jollification," that +evening.</p> +<p>They got the brandy through "Billy." One of Brigson's most +cursed legacies to the school was the introduction of this man to a +nefarious intercourse with the boys. His character was so well +known that it had long been forbidden, under the strictest penalty, +for any boy ever to speak to him; yet, strange to say, they seemed +to take a pleasure in doing so, and just now particularly it was +thought a fine thing, a sign of "pluck" and "anti-muffishness," to +be on familiar and intimate terms with that degraded and villainous +scoundrel.</p> +<p>Duncan had made friends again with Eric; but he did not join him +in his escapades and excesses, and sat much in other studies. He +had not been altogether a good boy, but yet there was a sort of +rough honesty and good sense about him, which preserved him from +the worst and most dangerous failings, and his character had been +gradually improving as he mounted higher in the school. He was +getting steadier, more diligent, more thoughtful, more manly; he +was passing through that change so frequent in boys as they grow +older, to which Eric was so sad an exception. Accordingly Duncan, +though sincerely fond of Eric, had latterly disapproved vehemently +of his proceedings, and had therefore taken to snubbing his old +friend Wildney, in whose favor Eric seemed to have an infatuation, +and who was the means of involving him in every kind of impropriety +and mischief. So that night Duncan, hearing of what was intended, +sat in the next study, and Eric, with Bull, Wildney, Graham, and +Pietrie, had the room to themselves. Several of them were lower +boys still, but they came to the studies after bed-time, according +to Wildney's almost nightly custom.</p> +<p>A little pebble struck the study window.</p> +<p>"Hurrah!" said Wildney, clapping his hands, "here's the +grub."</p> +<p>They opened the window and looked out. Billy was there, and they +let down to him a long piece of cord, to which he attached a +basket, and, after bidding them "Good night, and a merry drink," +retired. No sooner had they shut the window, than he grimaced as +usual towards them, and shook his fist in a sort of demoniacal +exultation, muttering, "Oh, I'll have you all under my thumb yet, +you fine young fools!"</p> +<p>Meanwhile the unconscious boys had opened the basket, and spread +its contents on the table. They were, bread, a large dish of +sausages, a tart, beer, and, alas! a bottle of brandy.</p> +<p>They soon got very noisy, and at last uproarious. The snatches +of songs, peals of laughter, and rattle of plates, at last grew so +loud that the other study-boys were afraid lest one of the masters +should come up and catch the revellers. All of them heard every +word that was spoken by Eric and his party as the walls between the +rooms were very thin; and very objectionable much of the +conversation was.</p> +<p>"This <i>won't</i> do," said Duncan emphatically, after a louder +burst of merriment than usual; "those fellows are getting drunk; I +can tell it to a certainty from the confused and random way in +which some of them are talking."</p> +<p>"We'd better go in and speak to them," said Montagu; "at any +rate, they've no right to disturb us all night. Will you come?"</p> +<p>"I'll join you," said Owen; "though I'm afraid my presence won't +do you much good."</p> +<p>The three boys went to the door of Eric's study, and their knock +could not at first be heard for the noise. When they went in they +found a scene of reckless disorder; books were scattered about, +plates and glasses lay broken on the floor, beer was spilt on all +sides, and there was an intolerable smell of brandy.</p> +<p>"If you fellows don't care," said Duncan, sharply, "Rose or +somebody'll be coming up and catching you. It's ten now."</p> +<p>"What's that to you?" answered Graham, with an insolent +look.</p> +<p>"It's something to me that you nice young men have been making +such a row that none of the rest of us can hear our own voices, and +that, between you, you've made this study in such a mess that I +can't endure it."</p> +<p>"Pooh!" said Pietrie; "we're all getting such saints, that one +can't have the least bit of spree now-a-days."</p> +<p>"Spree!" burst in Montagu indignantly; "fine spree, to make sots +of yourselves with spirits; fine spree, to----"</p> +<p>"Amen!" said Wildney, who was perched on the back of a chair; +and he turned up his eyes and clasped his hands with a mock-heroic +air.</p> +<p>"There, Williams," continued Montagu, pointing to the +mischievous-looking little boy; "see that spectacle, and be ashamed +of yourself, if you can. That's what you lead boys to! Are you +anxious to become the teacher of drunkenness?"</p> +<p>In truth, there was good ground for his sorrowful apostrophe, +for the scene was very painful to a high-minded witness.</p> +<p>They hardly understood the look on Eric's countenance; he had +been taking far more than was good for him; his eyes sparkled +fiercely, and though as yet he said nothing, he seemed to be +resenting the intrusion in furious silence.</p> +<p>"How much longer is this interesting lecture to last?" asked +Bull, with his usual insufferable drawl; "for I want to finish my +brandy."</p> +<p>Montagu rather looked as if he intended to give the speaker a +box on the ear; but he was just deciding that Bull wasn't worth the +trouble, when Wildney, who had been grimacing all the time, burst +into a fit of laughter.</p> +<p>"Let's turn out these impudent lower-school fellows," said +Montagu, speaking to Duncan. "Here! you go first," he said, seizing +Wildney by the arm, and giving him a swing, which, as he was by no +means steady on his legs, brought him sprawling to the ground.</p> +<p>"By Jove, I won't stand this any longer," shouted Eric, +springing up ferociously. "What on earth do you mean by daring to +come in like this? Do you hear?"</p> +<p>Montagu took no sort of notice of his threatening gesture, for +he was looking to see if Wildney was hurt, and finding he was not, +proceeded to drag him out, struggling and kicking frantically.</p> +<p>"Drop me, you fellow, drop me, I say. I won't go for you," cried +Wildney, shaking with passion. "Eric, why do you let him bully +me?"</p> +<p>"You let him go this minute," repeated Eric, hoarsely.</p> +<p>"I shall do no such thing. You don't know what you're +about."</p> +<p>"Don't I? Well, then, take <i>that</i>, to show whether I do or +no!" and suddenly leaning forward, he struck Montagu a violent +back-handed blow on the mouth.</p> +<p>Everybody saw it, everybody heard it; and it instantly astounded +them into silence. That Montagu should have been struck in public, +and that by Eric--by a boy who had loved him, and whom he had +loved--by a boy who had been his schoolfellow for three years now, +and whose whole life seemed bound to him by so many associations; +it was strange, and sad indeed.</p> +<p>Montagu sprang straight upright; for an instant he took one +stride towards his striker with lifted hand and lightning eyes, +while the blood started to his lips in consequence of the blow. But +he stopped suddenly and his hand fell to his side; by a strong +effort of self-control he contrived to master himself, and sitting +down quite quietly on a chair, he put his white handkerchief to his +wounded mouth, and took it away stained with blood.</p> +<p>No one spoke; and rising with quiet dignity, he went back into +his study without a word.</p> +<p>"Very well," said Duncan; "you may all do as you like; only I +heartily hope now you will be caught. Come, Owen."</p> +<p>"Oh, Williams," said Owen, "you are changed indeed, to treat +your best friend so."</p> +<p>But Eric was excited with drink, and the slave of every evil +passion at that moment. "Serve him right," he said; "what business +has he to interfere with what I choose to do?"</p> +<p>There was no more noise that night. Wildney and the rest slunk +off ashamed and frightened, and Eric, leaving his candle flaring on +the table, went down to his bed-room, where he was very sick. He +had neither strength nor spirit to undress, and flung himself into +bed just as was. When they heard that he was gone, Owen and Duncan +(for Montagu was silent and melancholy) went into his study, put +out the candle, and had only just cleared away, to the best of +their power, the traces of the carouse, when Dr. Rowlands came up +stairs on his usual nightly rounds. They had been lighting brown +paper to take away the fumes of the brandy, and the Doctor asked +them casually the cause of the smell of burning. Neither of them +answered, and seeing Owen there, in whom he placed implicit trust, +the Doctor thought no more about it.</p> +<p>Eric awoke with a bad headache, and a sense of shame and +sickness. When he got up he felt most wretched, and while washing +he thought to himself, "Ah! that I could thus wash away the memory +of last night!" Of course, after what had occurred, Eric and +Montagu were no longer on speaking terms, and miserable as poor +Eric felt when he saw how his blow had bruised and disfigured his +friend's face, he made no advances. He longed, indeed, from his +inmost heart, to be reconciled to him; but feeling that he had done +grievous wrong, he dreaded a repulse, and his pride would not +suffer him to run the risk. So he pretended to feel no regret, and, +supported by his late boon-companions, represented the matter as +occurring in the defence of Wildney, whom Montagu was bullying.</p> +<p>Montagu, too, was very miserable; but he felt that, although +ready to forgive Eric, he could not, in common self-respect, take +the first step to a reconciliation: indeed, he rightly thought that +it was not for Eric's good that he should do so.</p> +<p>"You and Williams appear never to speak to each other now," said +Mr. Rose. "I am sorry for it, Monty; I think you are the only boy +who has any influence over him."</p> +<p>"I fear you are mistaken, sir, in that. Little Wildney has much +more."</p> +<p>"Wildney?" asked Mr. Rose, in sorrowful surprise. "Wildney more +influence than <i>you</i>?"</p> +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> +<p>"Ah, that our poor Edwin had lived!"</p> +<p>So, with a sigh, Walter Rose and Harry Montagu buried their +friendship for Eric until happier days.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<br> +<h3>ERIC AND MONTAGU</h3> +<blockquote>"And constancy lives in realms above;<br> + And life is thorny; and youth is vain;<br> +And to be wroth with one we love,<br> + Doth work like madness in the brain.<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<br> +<br> +Each spoke words of high disdain<br> + And insult to his heart's best brother."<br> +<br> +COLERIDGE'S <i>Christabel</i>.</blockquote> +<p>Wright had not forgotten Montagu's advice, and had endeavored to +get the names of boys who wern't afraid to scout publicly the +disgrace of cheating in form. But he could only get one name +promised him--the name of Vernon Williams; and feeling how little +could be gained by using it, he determined to spare Vernon the +trial, and speak, if he spoke at all, on his own +responsibility.</p> +<p>As usual, the cribbing at the next weekly examination was +well-nigh universal, and when Mr. Gordon went out to fetch +something he had forgotten, merely saying, "I trust to your honor +not to abuse my absence," books and papers were immediately pulled +out with the coolest and most unblushing indifference.</p> +<p>This was the time for Wright to deliver his conscience; he had +counted the cost, and, rightly or wrongly considering it to be his +duty, he had decided that speak he would. He well knew that his +interference would be attributed to jealousy, meanness, sneaking, +and every kind of wrong motive, since he was himself one of the +greatest sufferers from the prevalent dishonesty; but still he had +come to the conclusion that he <i>ought</i> not to draw back, and +therefore he bravely determined that he would make his protest, +whatever happened.</p> +<p>So, very nervously, he rose and said, "I want to tell you all +that I think this cheating very wrong and blackguardly. I don't +mind losing by it myself, but if Vernon Williams loses the prize in +the lower fourth, and any one gets it by copying, I've made up my +mind to tell Gordon."</p> +<p>His voice trembled a little at first, but he spoke fast, and +acquired firmness as he went on. Absolute astonishment and +curiosity had held the boys silent with amazement, but by the end +of this sentence they had recovered themselves, and a perfect burst +of derision and indignation followed.</p> +<p>"Let's see if <i>that'll</i> cut short his oration," said +Wildney, throwing a book at his head, which was instantly followed +by others from all quarters.</p> +<p>"My word! we've had nothing but lectures lately," said Brooking. +"Horrid little Owenite saint."</p> +<p>"Saint!--sneak, you mean. I'll teach him," growled Pietrie, and +jumping up, he belabored Wright's head with the Latin grammar out +of which he had just been cribbing.</p> +<p>The whole room was in confusion and hubbub, during which Wright +sat stock still, quietly enduring without bowing to the storm.</p> +<p>Only one boy sympathised with him, but he did so deeply--poor +little penitent Vernon. He felt his position hard because Wright +had alluded so prominently to him, and he knew how much he must be +misconstrued, but he had his brother's spirit, and would not +shrink. Amid the tumult he got up in his seat, and they heard his +pleasant, childish voice saying boldly, "I hope Wright won't tell; +but he's the best fellow in the room, and cribbing <i>is</i> a +shame, as he says."</p> +<p>What notice would have been taken of this speech is doubtful, +for at the critical moment Mr. Gordon reappeared, and the whispered +cavè caused instantaneous quiet.</p> +<p>Poor Wright awaited with some dread the end of school; and many +an angry kick and blow he got, though he disarmed malice by the +spirit and heroism with which he endured them. The news of his +impudence spread like wildfire, and not five boys in the school +approved of what he had done, while most of them were furious at +his ill-judged threat of informing Mr. Gordon. There was a general +agreement to thrash him after roll-call that afternoon.</p> +<p>Eric had lately taken a violent dislike to Wright, though he had +been fond of him in better days. He used to denounce him as a +disagreeable and pragmatical little muff, and was as loud as any of +them in condemning his announced determination to "sneak." Had he +known that Wright had acted under Montagu's well-meant, though +rather mistaken advice, he might have abstained from having +anything more to do with the matter, but now he promised to kick +Wright himself after the four o'clock bell.</p> +<p>Four o'clock came; the names were called; the master left the +room. Wright, who perfectly knew what was threatened, stood there +pale but fearless. His indifferent look was an additional annoyance +to Eric, who walked up to him carelessly, and boxing his ears, +though without hurting him, said contemptuously, "Conceited little +sneak."</p> +<p>Montagu had been told of the intended kicking, and had +determined even single-handed to prevent it. He did <i>not</i>, +however, expect that Eric would have taken part in it, and was +therefore unprepared. The color rushed into his cheeks; he went up, +took Wright quietly by the hand, and said with firm determination, +"No one in the school shall touch Wright again."</p> +<p>"What? no one! just hark to that," said Graham; "I suppose he +thinks himself cock of the school."</p> +<p>Eric quite misunderstood Montagu's proceedings; he took it for a +public challenge. All the Rowlandites were round, and to yield +would have looked like cowardice. Above all, his evil genius +Wildney was by, and said, "How very nice! another dictation +lesson!"</p> +<p>A threatening circle had formed round Montagu, but his closed +lips, and flushing brow, and dilated nostrils, betrayed a spirit +which made them waver, and he quietly repeated, "No one shall touch +you, Wright."</p> +<p>"They <i>will</i>, though," said Eric instantly; "<i>I</i> will, +for one, and I should like to see you prevent me." And so saying he +gave Wright another slight blow.</p> +<p>Montagu dropped Wright's hand and said slowly, "Eric Williams, I +have taken one unexpected blow from you without a word, and bear +the marks of it yet. It is time to show that it was <i>not</i> +through cowardice that I did not return it. Will you fight?"</p> +<p>The answer was not prompt by any means, though every one in the +school knew that Eric was not afraid. So sure was he of this, that, +for the sake of "auld lang syne," he would probably have declined +to fight with Montagu had he been left to his own impulses.</p> +<p>"I have been in the wrong, Montagu, more than once," he +answered, falteringly, "and we have been friends--"</p> +<p>But it was the object of many of the worst boys that the two +should fight--not only that they might see the fun, but that +Montagu's authority, which stood in their way, might be flung +aside. So Brooking whispered in an audible voice--</p> +<p>"Faith! he's showing the white feather."</p> +<p>"You're a liar!" flung in Eric; and turning to Montagu, he +said--"There! I'll fight you this moment."</p> +<p>Instantly they had stripped off their coats and prepared for +action. A ring of excited boys crowded round them. Fellows of +sixteen, like Montagu and Eric, rarely fight, because their battles +have usually been decided in their earlier school-days; and it was +also but seldom that two boys so strong, active, and prominent, +took this method of settling their differences.</p> +<p>The fight began, and at first the popular favor was entirely on +the side of Eric, while Montagu found few or none to back him. But +he fought with a fire and courage which soon won applause; and as +Eric, on the other hand, was random and spiritless, the cry was +soon pretty fairly divided between them.</p> +<p>After a sharp round they paused for breath, and Owen, who had +been a silent and disgusted spectator of such a combat between boys +of such high standing, said with much, feeling--</p> +<p>"This is not a very creditable affair, Montagu."</p> +<p>"It is necessary," was Montagu's laconic reply.</p> +<p>Among other boys who had left the room before the fracas had +taken place, was Vernon Williams, who shrank away to avoid the pain +of seeing his new friend Wright bullied and tormented. But +curiosity soon took him back, and he came in just as the second +round began. At first he only saw a crowd of boys in the middle of +the room, but jumping on a desk he had a full view of what was +going on.</p> +<p>There was a tremendous hubbub of voices, and Eric, now +thoroughly roused by the remarks he overheard, and especially by +Wildney's whisper that "he was letting himself be licked," was +exerting himself with more vigor and effect. It was anything but a +noble sight; the faces of the combatants were streaked with blood +and sweat, and as the miserable gang of lower school-boys backed +them on with eager shouts of--"Now Eric, now Eric," "Now Montagu, +go it, sixth, form," etc., both of them fought under a sense of +deep disgrace, increased by the recollections which they shared in +common.</p> +<p>All this Vernon marked in a moment, and, filled with pain and +vexation, his said in a voice which, though low, could be heard +amid all the uproar, "Oh Eric, Eric, fighting with Montagu!" There +was reproach and sorrow in the tone, which touched more than one +boy there, for Vernon, spite of the recent change in him, could not +but continue a favorite.</p> +<p>"Shut up there, you little donkey," shouted one or two, looking +back at him for a moment.</p> +<p>But Eric heard the words, and knew that it was his brother's +voice. The thought rushed on him how degraded his whole position +was, and how different it might have been. He felt that he was +utterly in the wrong, and Montagu altogether in the right; and from +that moment his blows once more grew feeble and ill-directed. When +they again stopped to take rest, the general shout for Montagu +showed that he was considered to have the best of it.</p> +<p>"I'm getting so tired of this," muttered Eric, during the +pause.</p> +<p>"Why, you're fighting like a regular muff," said Graham; "you'll +have to acknowledge yourself thrashed in a minute."</p> +<p>"That I'll <i>never</i> do," he said, once more firing up.</p> +<p>Just as the third round began, Duncan came striding in, for +Owen, who had left the room, told him what was going on. He had +always been a leading fellow, and quite recently his influence had +several times been exerted in the right direction, and he was very +much looked up to by all the boys alike, good or bad. He +determined, for the credit of the sixth, that the fight should not +go on, and bursting into the ring, with his strong shoulders he +hurled on each side the boys who stood in his way, and struck down +the lifted arms of the fighters.</p> +<p>"You <i>shan't</i> fight," he said, doggedly, thrusting himself +between them; "so there's an end of it. If you do, you'll both have +to fight me first."</p> +<p>"Shame!" said several of the boys, and the cry was caught up by +Bull and others.</p> +<p>"Shame, is it?" said Duncan, and his lip curled with scorn. +"There's only one way to argue with, you fellows. Bull, if you, or +any other boy, repeat that word, I'll thrash him. Here, Monty, come +away from this disgraceful scene."</p> +<p>"I'm sick enough of it," said Montagu, "and am ready to stop if +Williams is,--provided no one touches Wright."</p> +<p>"I'm sick of it too," said Eric sullenly.</p> +<p>"Then you two shall shake hands," said Duncan.</p> +<p>For one instant--an instant which he regretted till the end of +his life--Montagu drew himself up and hesitated. He had been deeply +wronged, deeply provoked, and no one could blame him for the +momentary feeling: but Eric had observed the gesture, and his +passionate pride took the alarm. "It's come to this, then," he +thought; "Montagu doesn't think me good enough to be shaken hands +with."</p> +<p>"Pish!" he said aloud, in a tone of sarcasm; "it may be an awful +honor to shake hands with such an immaculate person as Montagu, but +I'm not proud on the subject;" and he turned away.</p> +<p>Montagu's hesitation was but momentary, and without a particle +of anger or indignation he sorrowfully held out his hand. It was +too late; that moment had done the mischief, and it was now Eric's +turn coldly to withdraw.</p> +<p>"You don't think me worthy of your friendship, and what's the +good of grasping hands if we don't do it with cordial hearts?"</p> +<p>Montagu's lip trembled, but he said nothing, and quietly putting +on his coat, waved back the throng of boys with a proud sweep of +his arm, and left the room with Duncan.</p> +<p>"Come along, Wright," he said.</p> +<p>"Nay, leave him," said Eric with a touch of remorse. "Much as +you think me beneath you, I have honor enough to see that no one +hurts him."</p> +<p>The group of boys gradually dispersed, but one or two remained +with Eric, although he was excessively wearied by their +observations.</p> +<p>"You didn't fight half like yourself," said Wildney.</p> +<p>"Can't you tell why? I had the wrong side to fight for." And +getting up abruptly, he left the room, to be alone in his study, +and bathe his swollen and aching face.</p> +<p>In a few minutes Vernon joined him, and at the mere sight of him +Eric burst into tears of shame. That evening with Vernon in the +study, after the dinner at the Jolly Herring, had revived all his +really warm affection for his little brother; and as he could no +longer conceal the line he took in the school, they had been often +together since then; and Eric's moral obliquity was not so great as +to prevent him from feeling deep joy at the change for the better +in Vernon's character.</p> +<p>"Verny, Verny," he said, as the boy came up and affectionately +took his hand, "it was you who lost me that fight."</p> +<p>"Oh, but, Eric, you were fighting with Montagu."</p> +<p>"Don't you remember the days, Eric," he continued, "when we were +home-boarders, and how kind Monty used to be to me even then, and +how mother liked him, and thought him quite your truest friend, +except poor Russell?"</p> +<p>"I do, indeed. I didn't think then that it would come to +this."</p> +<p>"I've always been <i>so</i> sorry," said Vernon, "that I joined +the fellows in playing him tricks. I can't think how I came to do +it, except that I've done such lots of bad things here. But he's +forgiven and forgotten that long ago, and is very kind to me +now."</p> +<p>It was true; but Eric didn't know that half the kindness which +Montagu showed to his brother was shown solely for <i>his</i> +sake.</p> +<p>"Do you know, I've thought of a plan for making you two friends +again? I've written to Aunt Trevor to ask him to Fairholm with us +next holidays."</p> +<p>"Oh, have you? Good Verny! Yes; <i>there</i> we might be +friends. Perhaps there," he added, half to himself, "I might be +more like what I was in better days."</p> +<p>"But it's a long time to look forward to. Easter hasn't come +yet," said Vernon.</p> +<p>So the two young boys proposed; but God had disposed it +otherwise.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<br> +<h3>THE PIGEONS</h3> +<blockquote>"Et motae ad Lunam trepidabis arundinis umbram."<br> +<br> +Juv. X. 21.</blockquote> +<p>"How awfully dull it is, Charlie," said Eric, a few weeks before +Easter, as he sat with Wildney in his study one holiday +afternoon.</p> +<p>"Yes; too late for football, too early for cricket." And Wildney +stretched himself and yawned.</p> +<p>"I suppose this is what they call ennui," said Eric again, after +a pause. "What is to be done, Sunbeam?"</p> +<p>"You <i>shan't</i> call me that, so there's an end of it," said +Wildney, hitting him on the arm.</p> +<p>"By the bye, Eric, you remind me to-morrow's my birth-day, and +I've got a parcel coming this afternoon full of grub from home. +Let's go and see if it's come."</p> +<p>"Capital! We will."</p> +<p>So Eric and Wildney started off to the coach-office, where they +found the hamper, and ordered it to be brought at once to the +school, and carried up to Eric's study.</p> +<p>On opening it they found it rich in dainties, among which were a +pair of fowls and a large plum-cake.</p> +<p>"Hurrah!" said Wildney, "you were talking of nothing to do; I +vote we have a carouse to-morrow."</p> +<p>"Very well; only let's have it <i>before</i> prayers, because we +were so nearly caught last time."</p> +<p>"Ay, and let it be in one of the class-rooms, Eric; not up here, +lest we have another incursion of the 'Rosebuds.' I shall have to +cut preparation, but that don't matter, It's Harley's night, and +old Stupid will never twig."</p> +<p>"Well, whom shall we ask?" said Eric.</p> +<p>"Old Llewellyn for one," said Wildney. "We havn't seen him for +an age, and he's getting too lazy even for a bit of fun."</p> +<p>"Good; and Graham," suggested Eric. He and Wildney regarded +their possessions so much as common property, that he hadn't the +least delicacy in mentioning the boys whom he wanted to invite.</p> +<p>"Yes; Graham's a jolly bird; and Bull?"</p> +<p>"I've no objection; and Pietrie?"</p> +<p>"Well; and your brother Vernon?"</p> +<p>"No!" said Eric, emphatically. "At any rate I won't lead +<i>him</i> into mischief any more."</p> +<p>"Attlay, then; and what do you say to Brooking?"</p> +<p>"No, again," said Eric; "he's a blackguard."</p> +<p>"I wonder you haven't mentioned Duncan," said Wildney.</p> +<p>"Duncan! why, my dear child, you might as well ask Owen, or even +old Rose, at once. Bless you, Charlie, he's a great deal too +correct to come now."</p> +<p>"Well; we've got six already, that's quite enough."</p> +<p>"Yes; but two fowls isn't enough for six hungry boys."</p> +<p>"No, it isn't," said Wildney. He thought a little, and then, +clapping his hands, danced about and said, "Are you game for a +<i>regular</i> lark, Eric?"</p> +<p>"Yes; anything to make it less dull. I declare I've very nearly +been taking to work again to fill up the time."</p> +<p>Eric often talked now of work in this slighting way partly as an +excuse for the low places in form to which he was gradually +sinking. Everybody knew that had he properly exerted his abilities +he was capable of beating almost any boy; so, to quiet his +conscience, he professed to ridicule diligence as an unboyish piece +of muffishness, and was never slow to sneer at the "grinders," as +he contemptuously called all those who laid themselves out to win +school distinctions.</p> +<p>"Ha, ha!" said Wildney, "that's rather good! No, Eric, it's too +late for you to turn 'grinder' now. I might as well think of doing +it myself, and I've never been higher than five from lag in my form +yet."</p> +<p>"Haven't you? But what's the regular lark you hinted at?"</p> +<p>"Why, we'll go and seize the Gordonites' <i>pigeons</i>, and +make another dish of them."</p> +<p>"Seize the Gordonites' pigeons! Why, when do you mean?"</p> +<p>"To-night."</p> +<p>Eric gave a long whistle. "But wouldn't it be st--t--?"</p> +<p>"Stealing?" said Wildney, with a loud laugh. "Pooh! +'<i>convey</i> the wise call it.'"</p> +<p>But Eric still looked serious. "Why, my dear old boy," continued +Wildney, "the Gordonites'll be the first to laugh at the trick when +we tell them of it next morning, as of course we will do. There, +now, don't look grumpy. I shall cut away and arrange it with. +Graham, and tell you the whole dodge ready prepared to-night at +bed-time."</p> +<p>After lights were put out, Wildney came up to the study +according to promise, and threw out hints about the proposed plan. +He didn't tell it plainly, because Duncan was there, but Duncan +caught enough to guess what was intended, and said, when Wildney +had gone--</p> +<p>"Take my advice, and have nothing to do with this, Eric."</p> +<p>Eric had grown very touchy lately about advice, particularly +from any fellow of his own standing; and after the checks he had +recently received, a coolness had sprung up between him and nearly +all the study-boys, which made him more than ever inclined to +assert his independence, and defy and thwart them in every way.</p> +<p>"Keep your advice to yourself, Duncan, till it's asked for," he +answered, roughly. "You've done nothing but <i>advise</i> lately, +and I'm rather sick of it."</p> +<p>"Comme vous voulez," replied Duncan, with a shrug. "Gang your +own gait; I'll have nothing more to do with trying to stop you, +since you <i>will</i> ruin yourself."</p> +<p>Nothing more was said in the study that evening, and when Eric +went down he didn't even bid Duncan goodnight.</p> +<p>"Charlie," he said, as he stole on tiptoe into Wildney's +dormitory.</p> +<p>"Hush!" whispered Wildney, "the other fellows are asleep. Come +and sit by my bedside, and I'll tell you what we're going to +do."</p> +<p>Eric went and sat by him, and he sat up in his bed "First of +all, <i>you're</i> to keep awake till twelve to-night," he +whispered; "old Rowley'll have gone round by that time, and it'll +be all safe. Then come and awake me again, and I'll watch till one, +Pietrie till two, and Graham till three. Then Graham'll awake us +all, and we'll dress."</p> +<p>"Very well. But how will you get the key of the lavatory?"</p> +<p>"Oh, I'll manage that," said Wildney, chuckling. "But come again +and awake me at twelve, will you?"</p> +<p>Eric went to his room and lay down, but he didn't take off his +clothes, for fear he should go to sleep. Dr. Rowlands came round as +usual at eleven, and then Eric closed his eyes for a few minutes, +till the head-master had disappeared. After that he lay awake +thinking for an hour, but his thoughts weren't very pleasant.</p> +<p>At twelve he went and awoke Wildney.</p> +<p>"I don't feel very sleepy. Shall I sit with you for your hour, +Charlie?"</p> +<p>"Oh, do! I should like it of all things. But douse the glim +there; we shan't want it, and it might give the alarm."</p> +<p>"All right."</p> +<p>So Eric went and sat by his dangerous little friend, and they +talked in low voices until they heard the great school clock strike +one. They then woke Pietrie, and Eric went off to bed again.</p> +<p>At three Graham awoke him, and dressing hastily, he joined the +others in the lavatory.</p> +<p>"Now, I'm going to get the key," said Wildney, "and mean to have +a stomach-ache for the purpose."</p> +<p>Laughing quietly he went up to the door of Mr. Harley's +bed-room, which opened out of the lavatory, and knocked.</p> +<p>No answer. He knocked a little louder. Still no answer. Louder +still.</p> +<p>"Bother the fellow," said Wildney; "he sleeps like a grampus. +Won't one of you try to wake him?"</p> +<p>"No," said Graham; "'taint dignified for fifth-form boys to have +stomach-aches."</p> +<p>"Well, I must try again." But it seemed no use knocking, and +Wildney at last, in a fit of impatience, thumped a regular tattoo +on the bed-room door.</p> +<p>"Who's there?" said the startled voice of Mr. Harley.</p> +<p>"Only me, sir!" answered Wildney, in a mild and innocent +way.</p> +<p>"What do you want?"</p> +<p>"Please, sir, I want the key of the lavatory. I'm indisposed," +said Wildney again, in a tone of such disciplined suavity, that the +others shook with laughing.</p> +<p>Mr. Harley opened the door about an inch, and peered about +suspiciously.</p> +<p>"Oh, well, you must go and awake Mr. Rose. I don't happen to +have the key to-night." And so saying, he shut the door.</p> +<p>"Phew! Here's a go!" said Wildney, recovering immediately. +"It'll never do to awake old Rose. He'd smell a rat in no +time."</p> +<p>"I have it," said Pietrie. "I've got an old nail, with which I +believe I can open the lock quite simply. Let's try."</p> +<p>"Quietly and quick, then," said Eric.</p> +<p>In ten minutes he had silently shot back the lock with the old +nail, and the boys were on the landing. They carried their shoes in +their hands, ran noiselessly down stairs, and went to the same +window at which Eric and Wildney had got out before. Wildney had +taken care beforehand to break the pane and move away the glass, so +they had only to loosen the bar and slip through one by one.</p> +<p>It was cold and very dark, and as on the March morning they +stood out in the playground, all four would rather have been safe +and harmlessly in bed. But the novelty and the excitement of the +enterprise bore them up, and they started off quickly for the house +at which Mr. Gordon and his pupils lived, which was about half a +mile from the school. They went arm in arm to assure each other a +little, for at first in their fright they were inclined to take +every post and tree for a man in ambush, and to hear a recalling +voice in every sound of wind and wave.</p> +<p>Not far from Mr. Gordon's was a carpenter's shop, and outside of +this there was generally a ladder standing. They had arranged to +carry this ladder with them (as it was only a short one), climb the +low garden wall with it, and then place it against the house, +immediately under the dovecot which hung by the first +story-windows. Wildney, as the lightest of the four, was to take +the birds, while the others held the ladder.</p> +<p>Slanting it so that it should be as far from the side of the +window as possible, Wildney ascended and thrust both hands into the +cot. He succeeded in seizing a pigeon with each hand, but in doing +so threw the other birds into a state of such alarm that they +fluttered about in the wildest manner, and the moment his hands +were withdrawn, flew out with a great flapping of hurried +wings.</p> +<p>The noise they made alarmed the plunderer, and he hurried down +the ladder as fast as he could. He handed the pigeons to the +others, who instantly wrung their necks.</p> +<p>"I'm nearly sure I heard somebody stir," said Wildney; "we +haven't been half quiet enough. Here! let's crouch down in this +corner."</p> +<p>All four shrank up as close to the wall as they could, and held +their breath. Some one was certainly stirring, and at last they +heard the window open. A head was thrust out, and Mr. Gordon's +voice asked sternly--"Who's there?"</p> +<p>He seemed at once to have caught sight of the ladder, and made +an endeavor to reach it; but though he stretched out his arm at +full length, he could not do so.</p> +<p>"We must cut for it," said Eric; "it's quite too dark for him to +see us, or even to notice that we are boys."</p> +<p>They moved the ladder to the wall, and sprang over, one after +the other, as fast as they could. Eric was last, and just as he got +to the top of the wall he heard the back door open, and some one +run out into the yard.</p> +<p>"Run for your lives," said Eric hurriedly; "it's Gordon, and +he's raising the alarm."</p> +<p>They heard footsteps following them, and an occasional shout of +"thieves! thieves!"</p> +<p>"We must separate and run different ways, or we've no chance of +escape. We'd better turn towards the town to put them off the right +scent," said Eric again.</p> +<p>"Don't leave me," pleaded Wildney; "you know I can't run very +fast."</p> +<p>"No, Charlie, I won't;" and grasping his hand, Eric hurried him +over the style and through the fields, while Pietrie and Graham +took the opposite direction.</p> +<p>Some one (they did not know who it was, but suspected it to be +Mr. Gordon's servant-man) was running after them, and they could +distinctly hear his footsteps, which seemed to be half a field +distant. He carried a light, and they heard him panting. They were +themselves tired, and in the utmost trepidation; the usually +courageous Wildney was trembling all over, and his fear +communicated itself to Eric. Horrible visions of a trial for +burglary, imprisonment in the castle jail, and perhaps +transportation, presented themselves to their excited imaginations, +as the sound of the footsteps came nearer.</p> +<p>"I can't run any further, Eric," said Wildney. "What shall we +do? don't leave me, for heaven's sake."</p> +<p>"Not I, Charlie. We must hide the minute we get t'other side of +this hedge."</p> +<p>They scrambled over the gate, and plunged into the thickest part +of a plantation close by, lying down on the ground behind some +bushes, and keeping as still as they could, taking care to cover +over their white collars.</p> +<p>The pursuer reached the gate, and no longer hearing footsteps in +front of him, he paused. He went a little distance up the hedge on +both sides and held up his light, but did not detect the cowering +boys, and at last giving up the search in despair, went slowly +home. They heard him plodding back over the field, and it was not +until the sound of his footsteps had died away, that Eric +cautiously broke cover, and looked over the hedge. He saw the man's +light gradually getting more distant, and said, "All right now, +Charlie. We must make the best of our way home."</p> +<p>"Are you sure he's gone?" said Wildney, who had not yet +recovered from his fright.</p> +<p>"Quite; come along. I only hope Pietrie and Graham ain't +caught."</p> +<p>They got back about half-past four, and climbed in unheard and +undetected through the window pane. They then stole up stairs with +beating hearts, and sat in Eric's room to wait for the other two. +To their great relief they heard them enter the lavatory about ten +minutes after.</p> +<p>"Were you twigged?" asked Wildney eagerly.</p> +<p>"No," said Graham; "precious near it though. Old Gordon and some +men were after us, but at last we doubled rather neatly, and +escaped them. It's all serene, and we shan't be caught."</p> +<p>"Well, we'd best to bed now," said Eric; "and, to my thinking, +we should be wise to keep a quiet tongue in our heads about this +affair."</p> +<p>"Yes, we had better tell <i>no one</i>." They agreed, and went +off to bed again. So, next morning, they all four got up quite as +if nothing had happened, and made no allusion to the preceding +night, although, they could not help chuckling inwardly a little +when the Gordonites came to morning school, brimful of a story +about their house having been attacked in the night by thieves, +who, after bagging some pigeons, had been chevied by Gordon and the +servants. Wildney professed immense interest in the incident, and +asked many questions, which showed that there was not a shadow of +suspicion in any one's mind as to the real culprits.</p> +<p>Carter, the school servant, didn't seem to have noticed that the +lavatory door was unlocked, and Mr. Harley never alluded again to +his disturbance in the night. So the theft of the pigeons remained +undiscovered, and remains so till this day. If any old Roslyn boy +reads this veracious history, he will doubtless be astounded to +hear that the burglars on that memorable night were Brio, Pietrie, +Graham, and Wildney.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<br> +<h3>SOWING THE WIND</h3> +<blockquote>"Praepediuntur<br> +Crura vacillanti, tardescit lingua, madet mens,<br> +Nant oculi."<br> +<br> +LUCR. iii. 417.</blockquote> +<p>Next evening, when preparation began, Pietrie and Graham got +everything ready for a carouse in their class-room. Wildney, +relying on the chance of names not being called over (which, was +only done in case any one's absence was observed), had absented +himself altogether from the boarders' room, and helped busily to +spread the table for the banquet. The cook had roasted for them the +fowls and pigeons, and Billy had brought an ample supply of beer +and some brandy for the occasion. A little before eight o'clock +everything was ready, and Eric, Attlay, and Llewellyn were summoned +to join the rest.</p> +<p>The fowls, pigeons, and beer had soon vanished, and the boys +were in the highest spirits. Eric's reckless gaiety was kindled by +Wildney's frolicsome vivacity, and Graham's sparkling wit; they +were all six in a roar of perpetual laughter at some fresh sally of +fun elicited by the more phlegmatic natures of Attlay or Llewellyn, +and the dainties of Wildney's parcel were accompanied by draughts +of brandy and water, which were sometimes exchanged for potations +of the raw liquor. It was not the first time, be it remembered, +that the members of that young party had been present at similar +scenes, and even the scoundrel Billy was astonished, and alarmed +occasionally at the quantities of spirits and other inebriating +drinks that of late had found their way to the studies. The +disgraceful and deadly habit of tippling had already told +physically on both Eric and Wildney. The former felt painfully that +he was losing his clear-headedness, and that his intellectual +tastes were getting not only blunted but destroyed; and while he +perceived in himself the terrible effects of his sinful indulgence, +he saw them still more indisputably in the gradual coarseness which +seemed to be spreading, like a grey lichen, over the countenance, +the mind, and the manners of his younger companion. Sometimes the +vision of a Nemesis breaking in fire out of his darkened future, +terrified his guilty conscience in the watches of the night; and +the conviction of some fearful Erynnis, some discovery dawning out +of the night of his undetected sins, made his heart beat fast with +agony and fear. But he fancied it too late to repent. He strangled +the half-formed resolutions as they rose, and trusted to the time +when, by leaving school, he should escape, as he idly supposed, the +temptations to which he had yielded. Meanwhile, the friends who +would have rescued him had been alienated by his follies, and the +principles which might have preserved him had been eradicated by +his guilt. He had long flung away the shield of prayer, and the +helmet of holiness, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word +of God; and now, unarmed and helpless, Eric stood alone, a mark for +the fiery arrows of his enemies, while, through the weakened inlet +of every corrupted sense, temptation rushed in upon him perpetually +and unawares.</p> +<p>As the class-room they had selected was in a remote part of the +building, there was little immediate chance of detection. So the +laughter of the party grew louder and sillier; the talk more +foolish and random; the merriment more noisy and meaningless. But +still most of them mingled some sense of caution with their +enjoyment, and warned Eric and Wildney more than once that they +must look out, and not take too much that night for fear of being +caught. But it was Wildney's birth-day, and Eric's boyish mirth, +suppressed by his recent troubles, was blazing out unrestrained. In +the riot of their feasting, the caution had been utterly neglected, +and the boys were far from being sober when the sound of the +prayer-bell ringing through the great hall, startled them into +momentary consciousness.</p> +<p>"Good heavens!" shouted Graham, springing up; "there's the +prayer-bell; I'd no notion it was so late. Here, let's shove these +brandy bottles and things into the cupboards and drawers, and then +we must run down."</p> +<p>There was no time to lose. The least muddled of the party had +cleared the room in a moment, and then addressed themselves to the +more difficult task of trying to quiet Eric and Wildney, and +conduct them steadily into the prayer-room.</p> +<p>Wildney's seat was near the door, so there was little difficulty +in getting him to his place comparatively unobserved. Llewellyn +took him by the arm, and after a little stumbling, helped him +safely to his seat, where he assumed a look of preternatural +gravity. But Eric sat near the head of the first table, not far +from Dr. Rowlands' desk, and none of the others had to go to that +part of the room. Graham grasped his arm tight, led him carefully +down stairs, and, as they were reaching the door, said to him, in a +most earnest and imploring tone--"Do try and walk sensibly to your +place, Eric, or we shall all be caught."</p> +<p>It was rather late when they got down. Everybody was quietly +seated, and most of the Bibles were already open, although the +Doctor had not yet come in. Consequently, the room was still, and +the entrance of Graham and Eric after the rest attracted general +notice. Eric had just sense enough to try and assume his ordinary +manner; but he was too giddy with the fumes of drink to walk +straight, or act naturally.</p> +<p>Vernon was sitting next to Wright, and stared at his brother +with great eyes and open lips. He was not the only observer.</p> +<p>"Wright," whispered he, in a timid voice; "just see how Eric +walks. What can be the matter with him? Good gracious, he must be +ill!" he said, starting up, as Eric suddenly made a great stagger +to one side, and nearly fell in the attempt to recover himself.</p> +<p>Wright pulled the little boy down with a firm hand.</p> +<p>"Hush!" he whispered; "take no notice; he's been drinking, +Verny, and I fear he'll be caught."</p> +<p>Vernon instantly sat down, and turned deadly pale. He thought, +and he had hoped, that since the day at the "Jolly Herring," his +brother had abandoned all such practices, for Eric had been most +careful to conceal from him the worst of his failings. And now he +trembled violently with fear for his discovery, and horror at his +disgraceful condition.</p> +<p>The sound of Eric's unsteady footsteps had made Mr. Rose quickly +raise his head; but at the same moment Duncan hastily made room for +the boy on the seat beside him, and held out his hand to assist +him. It was not Eric's proper place; but Mr. Rose, after one long +look of astonishment, looked down at his book again, and said +nothing.</p> +<p>It made other hearts besides Vernon's ache to see the unhappy +boy roll to his place in that helpless way.</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands came in, and prayers commenced. When they were +finished, the names were called, and Eric, instead of quietly +answering his "adsum," as he should have done, stood up, with a +foolish look, and said, "Yes, Sir." The head master looked at him +for a minute; the boy's glassy eyes, and jocosely stupid +appearance, told an unmistakable tale; but Dr. Rowlands only +remarked, "Williams, you don't look well. You had better go at once +to bed."</p> +<p>It was hopeless for Eric to attempt getting along without help, +so Duncan at once got up, took him by the arm, and with much +difficulty (for Eric staggered at every step) conducted him to his +bed-room.</p> +<p>Wildney's condition was also too evident; and Mr. Rose, while +walking up and down the dormitories, had no doubt left on his mind +that both Eric and Wildney had been drinking. But he made no +remarks to them, and merely went to the Doctor to talk over the +steps which were to be taken.</p> +<p>"I shall summon the school," said Dr. Rowlands, "on Monday, and +by that time we will decide on the punishment. Expulsion, I fear, +is the only course open to us."</p> +<p>"Is not that a <i>very</i> severe line to take?"</p> +<p>"Perhaps; but the offence is of the worst character I must +consider the matter."</p> +<p>"Poor Williams!" sighed Mr. Rose, as he left the room.</p> +<p>The whole of the miserable Sunday that followed was spent by +Eric and his companions in vain inquiries and futile restlessness. +It seemed clear that two of them at least were detected, and they +were inexpressibly wretched with anxiety and suspense. Wildney, who +had to stay in bed, was even more depressed; his head ached +violently, and he was alone with his own terrified thoughts. He +longed for the morrow, that at least he might have the poor +consolation of knowing his fate. No one came near him all day. Eric +wished to do so, but as he could not have visited the room without +express leave, the rest dissuaded him from asking, lest he should +excite further suspicion. His apparent neglect made poor Wildney +even more unhappy, for Wildney loved Eric as much as it was +possible for his volatile mind to love any one; and it seemed hard +to be deserted in the moment of disgrace and sorrow by so close a +friend.</p> +<p>At school the next morning the various masters read out to their +forms a notice from Dr. Rowlands, that the whole school were to +meet at ten in the great schoolroom. The object of the summons was +pretty clearly understood; and few boys had any doubt that it had +reference to the drinking on Saturday night. Still nothing had been +<i>said</i> on the subject as yet; and every guilty heart among +those 250 boys beat fast lest <i>his</i> sin too should have been +discovered, and he should be called out for some public and heavy +punishment.</p> +<p>The hour arrived. The boys thronging into the great school-room, +took their places according to their respective forms. The masters +in their caps and gowns were all seated on a small semicircular +bench at the upper end of the room, and in the centre of them, +before a small table, sate Dr. Rowlands.</p> +<p>The sound of whispering voices sank to a dead and painful hush. +The blood was tingling consciously in many cheeks, and not even a +breath could be heard in the deep expectation of that anxious and +solemn moment.</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands spread before him the list of the school, and said, +"I shall first read out the names of the boys in the first-fifth, +and upper-fourth forms."</p> +<p>This was done to ascertain formally whether the boys were +present on whose account the meeting was convened; and it at once +told Eric and Wildney that <i>they</i> were the boys to be +punished, and that the others had escaped.</p> +<p>The names were called over, and an attentive observer might have +told, from the sound of the boys' voices as they answered, which of +them were afflicted with a troubled conscience.</p> +<p>Another slight pause, and breathless hush.</p> +<p>"Eric Williams and Charles Wildney, stand forward."</p> +<p>The boys obeyed. From his place in the fifth, where he was +sitting with his head propped on his hand, Eric rose and advanced; +and Wildney, from the other end of the room, where the younger boys +sat, getting up, came and stood by his side.</p> +<p>Both of them fixed their eyes on the ground, whence they never +once raised them; and in the deadly pallor of their haggard faces, +you could scarcely have recognized the joyous high-spirited +friends, whose laugh and shout had often rung so merrily through +the play-ground, and woke the echoes of the rocks along the shore. +Every eye was on them, and they were conscious of it, though they +could not see it--painfully conscious of it, so that they wished +the very ground to yawn beneath their feet for the moment, and +swallow up their shame. Companionship in disgrace increased the +suffering; had either of them been alone, he would have been less +acutely sensible to the trying nature of his position; but that +they, so different in their ages and position in the school, should +thus have their friendship and the results of it blazoned, or +rather branded, before their friends and enemies added keenly to +the misery they felt. So, with eyes bent on the floor, Eric and +Charlie awaited their sentence.</p> +<p>"Williams and Wildney," said Dr. Rowlands in a solemn voice, of +which every articulation thrilled to the heart of every hearer, +"you have been detected in a sin most disgraceful and most +dangerous. On Saturday night you were both drinking, and you were +guilty of such gross excess, that you were neither of you in a fit +state to appear among your companions--least of all to appear among +them at the hour of prayer. I shall not waste many words on an +occasion like this; only I trust that those of your schoolfellows +who saw you staggering and rolling into the room on Saturday +evening in a manner so unspeakably shameful and degrading, will +learn from that melancholy sight the lesson which the Spartans +taught their children by exhibiting a drunkard before them--the +lesson of the brutalising and fearful character of this most +ruinous vice. Eric Williams and Charles Wildney, your punishment +will be public expulsion, for which you will prepare this very +evening. I am unwilling that for a single day either of +you--especially the elder of you--should linger, so as possibly to +contaminate others with the danger of so pernicious an +example."</p> +<p>Such a sentence was wholly unexpected; it took boys and masters +equally by surprise. The announcement of it caused an uneasy +sensation, which was evident to all present, though no one spoke a +word; but Dr. Rowlands took no notice of it, and only said to the +culprits--</p> +<p>"You may return to your seats."</p> +<p>The two boys found their way back instinctively, they hardly +knew how. They seemed confounded and thunderstruck by their +sentence, and the painful accessories of its publicity. Eric leaned +over the desk with his head resting on a book, too stunned even to +think; and Wildney looked straight before him with his eyes fixed +in a stupid and unobserved stare.</p> +<p>Form by form the school dispersed, and the moment he was +liberated Eric sprang away from the boys, who would have spoken to +him, and rushed wildly to his study, where he locked the door. In a +moment, however, he re-opened it, for he heard Wildney's step, and, +after admitting him, locked it once more.</p> +<p>Without a word Wildney, who looked very pale, flung his arms +round Eric's neck, and, unable to bear up any longer, burst into a +flood of tears. Both of them felt relief in giving the reins to +their sorrow.</p> +<p>"O my father! my father!" sobbed Wildney at length. "What will +he say? He will disown me, I know; he is so stern always with me +when he thinks I bring disgrace on him."</p> +<p>Eric thought of Fairholm, and of his own far-distant parents, +and of the pang which <i>his</i> disgrace would cause their loving +hearts; but he could say nothing, and only stroked Wildney's dark +hair again and again with a soothing hand.</p> +<p>They sat there long, hardly knowing how the time passed; Eric +could not help thinking how very, very different their relative +positions might have been; how, while he might have been aiding and +ennobling the young boy beside him, he had alternately led and +followed him into wickedness and disgrace. His heart was full of +misery and bitterness, and he felt almost indifferent to all the +future, and weary of his life.</p> +<p>A loud knocking at the door disturbed them. It was Carter, the +school servant.</p> +<p>"You must pack up to go this evening, young gentlemen."</p> +<p>"O no! no! no!" exclaimed Wildney; "<i>cannot</i> be sent away +like this. It would break my father's heart. Eric, <i>do</i> come +and entreat Dr. Rowlands to forgive us only this once."</p> +<p>"Yes," said Eric, starting up with sudden energy; "he +<i>shall</i> forgive us--<i>you</i> at any rate. I will not leave +him till he does. Cheer up, Charlie, cheer up, and come along."</p> +<p>Filled with an irresistible impulse, he pushed Carter aside, and +sprang down stairs three steps at a time, with Wildney following +him. They went straight for the Doctor's study, and without waiting +for the answer to their knock at the door, Eric walked up to Dr. +Rowlands, who sate thinking in his arm-chair by the fire, and burst +out passionately, "O sir, forgive us this once."</p> +<p>The Doctor was completely taken by surprise, so sudden was the +intrusion, and so intense was the boy's manner. He remained silent +a moment from astonishment, and then said with asperity--</p> +<p>"Your offence is one of the most dangerous possible. There could +be no more perilous example for the school, than the one you have +been setting, Williams. Leave the room," he added, with an +authoritative gesture, "my mind is made up."</p> +<p>But Eric was too excited to be overawed by the master's manner; +an imperious passion blinded him to all ordinary considerations, +and, heedless of the command, he broke out again--</p> +<p>"O sir, try me but once, <i>only</i> try me. I promise you most +faithfully that I will never again commit the sin. O sir, do, do +trust me, and I will be responsible for Wildney too."</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands, seeing that in Eric's present mood he must and +would be heard, unless he were ejected by actual force, began to +pace silently up and down the room in perplexed and anxious +thought; at last he stopped and turned over the pages of a thick +school register, and found Eric's name.</p> +<p>"It is not your first offence, Williams, even of this very kind. +That most seriously aggravates your fault."</p> +<p>"O sir! give us one more chance to mend. O, I feel that I +<i>could</i> do such great things, if you will be but merciful, and +give me time to change. O, I entreat you, sir, to forgive us only +this once, and I will never ask again. Let us bear <i>any</i> other +punishment but this. O sir," he said, approaching the doctor in an +imploring attitude, "spare us this one time for the sake of our +friends."</p> +<p>The head-master made no reply for a time, but again paced the +room in silence. He was touched, and seemed hardly able to restrain +his emotion.</p> +<p>"It was my deliberate conclusion to expel you, Williams. I must +not weakly yield to entreaty. You must go."</p> +<p>Eric wrung his hands in agony. "O, sir, then, if you must do so, +expel me only, and not Charlie, <i>I</i> can bear it, but do not +let me ruin him also. O I implore you, sir, for the love of God do, +do forgive him. It is I who have misled him;" and he flung himself +on his knees, and lifted his hands entreatingly towards the +Doctor.</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands looked at him--at his blue eyes drowned with tears, +his agitated gesture, his pale, expressive face, full of passionate +supplication. He looked at Wildney, too, who stood trembling with a +look of painful and miserable suspense, and occasionally added his +wild word of entreaty, or uttered sobs more powerful still, that +seemed to come from the depth of his heart. He was shaken in his +resolve, wavered for a moment, and then once more looked at the +register.</p> +<p>"Yes," he said, after a long pause, "here is an entry which +shall save you this time. I find written here against your name, +'April 3. Risked his life in the endeavor to save Edwin Russell at +the Stack.' That one good and noble deed shall be the proof that +you are capable of better things. It may be weak perhaps--I know +that it will be called weak--and I do not feel certain that I am +doing right; but if I err it shall be on the side of mercy. I shall +change expulsion into some other punishment. You may go."</p> +<p>Wildney's face lighted up as suddenly and joyously as when a ray +of sun-light gleams for an instant out of a dark cloud.</p> +<p>"O thank you, thank you, sir," he exclaimed, drying his eyes, +and pouring into the words a world of expression, which it was no +light pleasure to have heard. But Eric spoke less impulsively, and +while the two boys were stammering out their deep gratitude, a +timid hand knocked at the door, and Vernon entered.</p> +<p>"I have come, sir, to speak for poor Eric," he said in a low +voice, and trembling with emotion, as, with downcast eyes, he +modestly approached towards Dr. Rowlands, not even observing the +presence of the others in the complete absorption of his feelings. +He stood in a sorrowful attitude, not venturing to look up, and his +hand played nervously with the ribbon of his straw hat.</p> +<p>"I have just forgiven him, my little boy," said the Doctor +kindly, patting his stooping head; "there he is, and he has been +speaking for himself."</p> +<p>"O, Eric, I am so, so glad, I don't know what to say for joy. O +Eric, thank God that you are not to be expelled;" and Vernon went +to his brother, and embraced him with the deepest affection.</p> +<p>Dr. Rowlands watched the scene with moist eyes. He was generally +a man of prompt decision, and he well knew that he would incur by +this act the charge of vacillation. It was a noble self-denial in +him to be willing to do so, but it would have required an iron +heart to resist such earnest supplications, and he was more than +repaid when he saw how much anguish he had removed by yielding to +their entreaties.</p> +<p>Once more humbly expressing their gratitude, the boys +retired.</p> +<p>They did not know that other influences had been also exerted in +their favor, which, although ineffectual at the time, had tended to +alter the Doctor's intention. Immediately after school Mr. Rose had +been strongly endeavoring to change the Doctor's mind, and had +dwelt forcibly on all the good points in Eric's character, and the +promise of his earlier career. And Montagu had gone with Owen and +Duncan to beg that the expulsion might be commuted into some other +punishment. They had failed to convince him; but, perhaps, had they +not thus exerted themselves, Dr. Rowlands might have been unshaken, +though he could not be unmoved by Vernon's gentle intercession and +Eric's passionate prayers.</p> +<p>Wildney, full of joy, and excited by the sudden revulsion of +feeling, only shook Eric's hand with all his might, and then darted +out into the playground to announce the happy news. The boys all +flocked round him, and received the intelligence with unmitigated +pleasure. Among them all there was not one who did not rejoice that +Eric and Wildney were yet to continue of their number.</p> +<p>But the two brothers returned to the study, and there, sorrowful +in his penitence, with his heart still aching with remorse, Eric +sat down on a chair facing the window, and drew Vernon to his side. +The sun was setting behind the purple hills, flooding the green +fields and silver sea with the crimson of his parting rays. The air +was full of peace and coolness, and the merry sounds of the cricket +field blended joyously with the whisper of the evening breeze. Eric +was fond of beauty in every shape, and his father had early taught +him a keen appreciation of the glories of nature. He had often +gazed before on that splendid scene, as he was now gazing on it +thoughtfully with his brother by his side. He looked long and +wistfully at the gorgeous pageantry of quiet clouds, and passed his +arm more fondly round Vernon's shoulder.</p> +<p>"What are you thinking of, Eric? Why, I declare you are crying +still," said Vernon playfully, as he wiped a tear which had +overflowed on his brother's cheek, "aren't you glad that the Doctor +has forgiven you?"</p> +<p>"Gladder, far gladder than I can say, Verny. O Verny, Verny, I +hope your school-life may be happier than mine has been. I would +give up all I have, Verny, to have kept free from the sins I have +learnt. God grant that I may yet have time and space to do +better."</p> +<p>"Let us pray together, Eric," whispered his brother reverently, +and they knelt down and prayed; they prayed for their distant +parents and friends; they prayed for their schoolfellows and for +each other, and for Wildney, and they thanked God for all his +goodness to them; and then Eric poured out his heart in a fervent +prayer that a holier and happier future might atone for his +desecrated past, and that his sins might be forgiven for his +Saviour's sake.</p> +<p>The brothers rose from their knees calmer and more +light-hearted, and gave each other a solemn affectionate kiss, +before they went down again to the play-ground. But they avoided +the rest of the boys, and took a stroll together along the sands, +talking quietly, and happily, and hoping bright hopes for future +days.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<br> +<h3>WHOM THE GODS LOVE DIE YOUNG</h3> +<blockquote>"Oh is it weed, or fish, or floating hair?<br> +A tress of maiden's hair,<br> +Of drowned maiden's hair,<br> +Above the nets at sea?"--KINGSLEY.</blockquote> +<p>Eric and Wildney were flogged and confined to gates for a time +instead of being expelled, and they both bore the punishment in a +manly and penitent way, and set themselves with all their might to +repair the injury which their characters had received. Eric, +especially, seemed to be devoting himself with every energy to +regain, if possible, his long lost position, and by the altered +complexion of his remaining school-life, to atone in some poor +measure for its earlier sins. And he carried Wildney with him, +influencing others also of his late companions in a greater or less +degree. It was not Eric's nature to do things by halves, and it +became obvious to all that his exertions to resist and abandon his +old temptations were strenuous and unwavering. He could no longer +hope for the school distinctions, which would have once lain so +easily within his reach, for the ground lost during weeks of +idleness cannot be recovered by a wish; but he succeeded +sufficiently, by dint of desperately hard work, to acquit himself +with considerable credit, and in the Easter examination came out +sufficiently high, to secure his remove into the sixth form after +the holidays.</p> +<p>He felt far happier in the endeavor to fulfill his duty, than he +had ever done during the last years of recklessness and neglect, +and the change for the better in his character tended to restore +unanimity and good will to the school. Eric no longer headed the +party which made a point of ridiculing and preventing industry; +and, sharing as he did the sympathy of nearly all the boys, he was +able quietly and unobtrusively to calm down the jealousies and +allay the heartburnings which had for so long a time brought +discord and disunion into the school society. Cheerfulness and +unanimity began to prevail once more at Roslyn, and Eric had the +intense happiness of seeing how much good lay still within his +power.</p> +<p>So the Easter holidays commenced with promise, and the few first +days glided away in innocent enjoyments. Eric was now reconciled +again to Owen and Duncan, and, therefore, had a wider choice of +companions more truly congenial to his high nature than the narrow +circle of his late associates.</p> +<p>"What do you say to a boat excursion to-morrow?" asked Duncan, +as they chatted together one evening.</p> +<p>"I won't go without leave," said Eric; "I should only get +caught, and get into another mess. Besides, I feel myself pledged +now to strict obedience."</p> +<p>"Ay, you're quite right. We'll get leave easily enough though, +provided we agree to take Jim the boatman with us; so I vote we +make up a party."</p> +<p>"By the bye, I forgot; I'm engaged to Wildney to-morrow."</p> +<p>"Never mind. Bring him with you, and Graham too, if you +like."</p> +<p>"Most gladly," said Eric, really pleased; for he saw by this +that Duncan observed the improvement in his old friends, and was +falling in with the endeavor to make all the boys really cordial to +each other, and destroy all traces of the late factions.</p> +<p>"Do you mind my bringing Montagu?"</p> +<p>"Not at all. Why should I?" answered Eric, with a slight blush. +Montagu and he had never been formally reconciled, nor had they, as +yet, spoken to each other. Indeed Duncan had purposely planned the +excursion to give them an opportunity of becoming friends once +more, by being thrown together. He knew well that they both +earnestly wished it, although, with the natural shyness of boys, +they hardly knew how to set about effecting it. Montagu hung back +lest he should seem to be patronising a fallen enemy, and Eric lest +he should have sinned too deeply to be forgiven.</p> +<p>The next morning dawned gloriously, and it was agreed that they +should meet at Starhaven, the point where they were to get the +boat, at ten o'clock. As they had supposed, Dr. Rowlands gave a +ready consent to the row, on condition of their being accompanied +by the experienced sailor whom the boys called Jim. The precaution +was by no means unnecessary, for the various currents which ran +round the island were violent at certain stages of the tide, and +extremely dangerous for any who were not aware of their general +course.</p> +<p>Feeling that the day would pass off very unpleasantly if any +feeling of restraint remained between him and Montagu, Eric, by a +strong effort, determined to "make up with him" before starting, +and went into his study for that purpose after breakfast. Directly +he came in, Montagu jumped up and welcomed him cordially, and when, +without any allusion to the past, the two shook hands with all +warmth, and looked the old proud look into each other's faces, they +felt once more that their former affection was unimpaired, and that +in heart they were real and loving friends. Most keenly did they +both enjoy the renewed intercourse, and they found endless subjects +to talk about on their way to Starhaven, where the others were +already assembled when they came.</p> +<p>With Jim's assistance they shoved a boat into the water, and +sprang into it in the highest spirits. Just as they were pushing +off they saw Wright and Vernon running down to the shore towards +them, and they waited to see what they wanted. "Couldn't you take +us with you?" asked Vernon, breathless with his run.</p> +<p>"I'm afraid not, Verny," said Montagu; "the boat won't hold more +than six, will it, Jim?"</p> +<p>"No, sir, not safely."</p> +<p>"Never mind, you shall have my place, Verny," said Eric, as he +saw his brother's disappointed look.</p> +<p>"Then Wright shall take mine," said Wildney.</p> +<p>"O dear no," said Wright, "we wouldn't turn you out for the +world. Vernon and I will take an immense walk down the coast +instead, and will meet you here as we come back."</p> +<p>"Well, good bye, then; off we go;" and with light hearts the +boaters and the pedestrians parted.</p> +<p>Eric, Graham, Duncan, and Montagu took the first turn at the +oars, while Wildney steered. Graham's "crabs," and Wildney's rather +crooked steering, gave plenty of opportunity for chaff, and they +were full of fun as the oar-blades splashed and sparkled in the +waves. Then they made Jim sing them some of his old sailor songs as +they rowed, and joined vigorously in the choruses. They had +arranged to make straight for St. Catherine's Head, and land +somewhere near it to choose a place for their pic-nic. It took them +nearly two hours to get there, as they rowed leisurely, and enjoyed +the luxury of the vernal air. It was one of the sunniest days of +early spring; the air was pure and delicious, and the calm sea +breeze, just strong enough to make the sea flame and glister in the +warm sunlight, was exhilarating as new wine. Underneath them the +water was transparent as crystal, and far below they could see the +green and purple sea-weeds rising like a many-colored wood, through +which occasionally they saw a fish, startled by their oars, dart +like an arrow. The sky overhead was a cloudless blue, and as they +kept not far from shore, the clearly cut outline of the coast, with +its rocks and hills standing out in the vivid atmosphere, made a +glowing picture, to which the golden green of the spring herbage, +bathed in its morning sunlight, lent the magic of enchantment. Who +could have been otherwise than happy in such a scene and at such a +time? but these were boys with the long bright holiday before them, +and happiness is almost too quiet a word to express the bounding +exultation of heart, the royal and tingling sense of vigorous life, +which made them shout and sing, as their boat rustled through the +ripples, from a mere instinct of inexpressible enjoyment.</p> +<p>They had each contributed some luxury to the pic-nic, and it +made a very tempting display as they spread it out, under a sunny +pebbled cave, by St. Catherine's Head; although, instead of +anything more objectionable, they had thought it best to content +themselves with a very moderate quantity of beer. When they had +done eating, they amused themselves on the shore; and had +magnificent games among the rocks, and in every fantastic nook of +the romantic promontory. And then Eric suggested a bathe to wind up +with, as it was the first day when it had been quite warm enough to +make bathing pleasant.</p> +<p>"But we've got no towels."</p> +<p>"Oh! chance the towels. We can run about till we're dry." So +they bathed, and then getting in the boat to row back again, they +all agreed that it was the very jolliest day they'd ever had at +Roslyn, and voted to renew the experiment before the holidays were +over, and take Wright and Vernon with them in a larger boat.</p> +<p>It was afternoon,--and afternoon still warm and beautiful,--when +they began to row home; so they took it quietly, and kept near the +land for variety's sake, laughing, joking, and talking as merrily +as ever.</p> +<p>"I declare I think this is the prettiest or anyhow the grandest +bit of the whole coast," said Eric, as they neared a glen through +whose narrow gorge a green and garrulous little river gambolled +down with noisy turbulence into the sea. He might well admire that +glen; its steep and rugged sides were veiled with lichens, moss, +and wild-flowers, and the sea-birds found safe refuge in its lonely +windings, which were colored with topaz and emerald by the +pencillings of nature and the rich stains of time.</p> +<p>"Yes," answered Montagu, "<i>I</i> always stick up for Avon Glen +as the finest scene we've got about here. But, I say, who's that +gesticulating on the rock there to the right of it? I verily +believe it's Wright, apostrophising the ocean for Vernon's benefit. +I only see one of them though."</p> +<p>"I bet you he's spouting</p> +<blockquote>'Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean--roll!<br> +Ten thousand fleets, etc.'"</blockquote> +<p>said Graham laughing.</p> +<p>"What do you say to putting in to shore there?" said Duncan; +"it's only two miles to Starhaven, and I dare say we could make +shift to take them in for that distance. If Jim says anything we'll +chuck him overboard."</p> +<p>They rowed towards Avon Glen, and to their surprise Wright, who +stood there alone (for with a pocket telescope they clearly made +out that it <i>was</i> Wright), still continued to wave his arms +and beckon them in a manner which they at first thought ridiculous, +but which soon make them feel rather uneasy. Jim took an oar, and +they soon got within two hundred yards of the beach. Wright had +ceased to make signals, but appeared to be shouting to them, and +pointing towards one corner of the glen; but though they caught the +sound of his voice they could not hear what he said.</p> +<p>"I wonder why Vernon isn't with him," said Eric anxiously; "I +hope--why, what <i>are</i> you looking at, Charlie?"</p> +<p>"What's that in the water there?" said Wildney, pointing in the +direction to which Wright was also looking.</p> +<p>Montagu snatched the telescope out of his hand and looked. "Good +God!" he exclaimed, turning pale; "what can be the matter?"</p> +<p>"O <i>do</i> let me look," said Eric.</p> +<p>"No! stop, stop, Eric, you'd better not, I think; pray don't, it +may be all a mistake. You'd better not--but it looked--nay, you +really <i>mustn't,</i> Eric," he said, and, as if accidentally, he +let the telescope fall into the water, and they saw it sink down +among the seaweeds at the bottom.</p> +<p>Eric looked at him reproachfully. "What's the fun of that, +Monty? you let it drop on purpose."</p> +<p>"O never mind; I'll get Wildney another. I really daren't let +you look, for fear you should <i>fancy</i> the same as I did, for +it must be fancy. O <i>don't</i> let us put in there--at least not +all of us."</p> +<p>What <i>was</i> that thing in the water?--When Wright and Vernon +left the others, they walked along the coast, following the +direction of the boat, and agreed to amuse themselves in collecting +eggs. They were very successful, and, to their great delight, +managed to secure some rather rare specimens. When they had tired +themselves with this pursuit, they lay on the summit of one of the +cliffs which formed the sides of Avon Glen, and Wright, who was +very fond of poetry, read Vernon a canto of Marmion with great +enthusiasm.</p> +<p>So they whiled away the morning, and when the canto was over, +Vernon took a great stone and rolled it for amusement over the +cliff's edge. It thundered over the side, bounding down till it +reached the strand, and a large black cormorant, startled by the +reverberating echoes, rose up suddenly, and flapped its way with +protruded neck to a rock on the further side of the little bay.</p> +<p>"I bet you that animal's got a nest somewhere near here," said +Vernon eagerly. "Come, let's have a look for it; a cormorant's egg +would be a jolly addition to our collection."</p> +<p>They got up, and looking down the face of the cliff, saw, some +eight feet below them, a projection half hidden by the branch of a +tree, on which the scattered pieces of stick clearly showed the +existence of a rude nest. They could not, however, see whether it +contained eggs or no.</p> +<p>"I must bag that nest; it's pretty sure to have eggs in it," +said Vernon, "and I can get at it easy enough." He immediately +began to descend towards the place where the nest was built, but he +found it harder than he expected.</p> +<p>"Hallo," he said, "this is a failure. I must climb up again to +reconnoitre if there isn't a better dodge for getting at it." He +reached the top, and, looking down, saw a plan of reaching the +ledge which promised more hope of success.</p> +<p>"You'd better give it up, Verny," said Wright. "I'm sure it's +harder than we fancied, <i>I</i> couldn't manage it, I know."</p> +<p>"O no, Wright, never say die. Look; if I get down more towards +the right the way's plain enough, and I shall have reached the nest +in no time." Again his descended in a different direction, but +again he failed. The nest could only be seen from the top, and he +had lost the right route.</p> +<p>"You must keep more to the right."</p> +<p>"I know," answered Vernon; "but, bother take it, I can't manage +it, now I'm so far down. I must climb up <i>again</i>."</p> +<p>"<i>Do</i> give it up, Verny, there's a good fellow. You +<i>can't</i> reach it, and really it's dangerous."</p> +<p>"O no, not a bit of it. My head's very steady, and I feel as +cool as possible. We mustn't give up; I've only to get at the tree, +and then I shall be able to reach the nest from it quite +easily."</p> +<p>"Well, do take care, that's a dear fellow."</p> +<p>"Never fear," said Vernon, who was already commencing his third +attempt. This time he got to the tree, and placed his foot on a +part of the root, while with his hands he clung on to a clump of +heather. "Hurrah!" he cried, "it's got two eggs in it, Wright;" and +he stretched downwards to take them. Just as he was doing so, he +heard the root on which his foot rested give a great crack, and +with a violent start he made a spring for one of the lower +branches. The motion caused his whole weight to rest for an instant +on his arms;--unable to sustain the wrench, the heather gave way, +and with a wild shriek he fell headlong down the surface of the +cliff.</p> +<p>With, a wild shriek!--but silence followed it.</p> +<p>"Vernon! Vernon!" shouted the terrified Wright, creeping close +up to the edge of the precipice. "O Vernon! for heaven's sake +speak!"</p> +<p>There was no answer, and leaning over, Wright saw the young boy +outstretched on the stones three hundred feet below. For some +minutes he was horrorstruck beyond expression, and made wild +attempts to descend the cliff and reach him. But he soon gave up the +attempt in despair. There was a tradition in the school that the +feat had once been accomplished by an adventurous and active boy, +but Wright at any rate found it hopeless for himself. The only +other way to reach the glen was by a circuitous route which led to +the entrance of the narrow gorge, along the sides of which it was +possible to make way with difficulty down the bank of the river to +the place where it met the sea. But this would have taken him an +hour and a half, and was far from easy when the river was swollen +with high tide. Nor was there any house within some distance at +which assistance could be procured, and Wright, in a tumult of +conflicting emotions, determined to wait where he was, on the +chance of seeing the boat as it returned from St. Catherine's Head. +It was already three o'clock, and he knew that they could not now +be longer than an hour at most; so with eager eyes he sat watching +the headland, round which he knew they would first come in sight. +He watched with wild eager eyes, absorbed in the one longing desire +to catch sight of them; but the leaden-footed moments crawled on +like hours, and he could not help shivering with agony and fear. At +last he caught a glimpse of them, and springing up, began to shout +at the top of his voice, and wave his handkerchief and his arms in +the hope of attracting their attention. Little thought those blithe +merry-hearted boys in the midst of the happy laughter which they +sent ringing over the waters, little they thought how terrible a +tragedy awaited them.</p> +<p>At last Wright saw that they had perceived him, and were putting +inland, and now, in his fright, he hardly knew what to do; but +feeling sure that they could not fail to see Vernon, he ran off as +fast as he could to Starhaven, where he rapidly told the people at +a farm-house what had happened, and asked them to get a cart ready +to convey the wounded boy to Roslyn school.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the tide rolled in calmly and quietly in the rosy +evening, radiant with the diamond and gold of reflected sunlight +and transparent wave. Gradually gently it crept up to the place +where Vernon lay; and the little ripples fell over him wonderingly, +with the low murmur of their musical laughter, and blurred and +dimmed the vivid splashes and crimson streaks upon the white stone +on which his head had fallen, and washed away some of the purple +bells and green sprigs of heather round which his fingers were +closed in the grasp of death, and played softly with his fair hair +as it rose, and fell, and floated on their undulations like a leaf +of golden-colored weed, until they themselves were faintly +discolored by his blood. And then, tired with their new plaything, +they passed on, until the swelling of the water was just strong +enough to move rudely the boy's light weight, and in a few moments +more would have tossed it up and down with every careless wave +among the boulders of the glen. And then it was that Montagu's +horror-stricken gaze had identified the object at which they had +been gazing. In strange foreboding silence they urged on the boat, +while Eric at the prow seemed wild with the one intense impulse to +verify his horrible suspicion. The suspicion grew and grew:--it +<i>was</i> a boy lying in the water;--it was Vernon;--he was +motionless;--he must have fallen there from the cliff.</p> +<p>Eric could endure the suspense no longer. The instant that the +boat grated on the shingle, he sprang into the water, and rushed to +the spot where his brother's body lay. With a burst of passionate +affection, he flung himself on his knees beside it, and took the +cold hand in his own--the little rigid hand in which the green +blades of grass, and fern, and heath, so tightly clutched, were +unconscious of the tale they told.</p> +<p>"Oh Verny, Verny, darling Verny, speak to me!" he cried in +anguish, as he tenderly lifted up the body, and marked how little +blood had flowed. But the child's head fell back heavily, and his +arms hung motionless beside him, and with a shriek, Eric suddenly +caught the look of dead fixity in his blue open eyes.</p> +<p>The others had come up. "O God, save my brother, save him, save +him from death," cried Eric, "I cannot live without him. Oh God! Oh +God! Look! look!" he continued, "he has fallen from the cliff with +his head on this cursed stone," pointing to the block of quartz, +still red with blood-stained hair; "but we must get a doctor. He is +not dead! no, no, no, he <i>cannot</i> be dead. Take him quickly, +and let us row home. Oh God! why did I ever leave him?"</p> +<p>The boys drew round in a frightened circle, and lifted Vernon's +corpse into the boat; and then, while Eric still supported the +body, and moaned, and called to him in anguish, and chafed his cold +pale brow and white hands, and kept saying that he had fainted and +was not dead, the others rowed home with all speed, while a feeling +of terrified anxiety lay like frost upon their hearts.</p> +<p>They reached Starhaven, and got into the cart with the lifeless +boy, and heard from Wright how the accident had taken place. Few +boys were about the play-ground, so they got unnoticed to Roslyn, +and Dr. Underhay, who had been summoned, was instantly in +attendance. He looked at Vernon for a moment, and then shook his +head in a way that could not be mistaken. Eric saw it, and flung +himself with uncontrollable agony on his brother's corpse. "O +Vernon, Vernon, my own dear brother! oh God, then he is dead." And, +unable to endure the blow, he fainted away.</p> +<p>I cannot dwell on the miserable days that followed, when the +very sun in heaven seemed dark to poor Eric's wounded and crushed +spirit. He hardly knew how they went by. And when they buried +Vernon in the little green churchyard by Russell's side, and the +patter of the earth upon the coffin--that most terrible of all +sounds--struck his ear, the iron entered into his soul, and he had +but one wish as he turned away from the open grave, and that was, +soon to lie beside his beloved little brother and to be at +rest.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> +<br> +<h3>THE LAST TEMPTATION</h3> +<blockquote>[Greek: 'Ae d' Atae sthenazae te chai 'aztipos sunecha +pasas<br> +Pollou 'upechpzotheei, phthaneei d' de te pasan ep' aiach<br> +Blaptous' anthxopous.] Hom Il. ix. 505.</blockquote> +<p>Time, the great good angel, Time, the merciful healer, assuaged +the violence of Eric's grief, which seemed likely to settle down +into a sober sadness. At first his letters to his parents and to +Fairholm were almost unintelligible in their fierce abandonment of +sorrow; but they grew calmer in time,--and while none of his +school-fellows ever ventured in his presence to allude to Vernon, +because of the emotion which the slightest mention of him excited, +yet he rarely wrote any letters to his relations in which he did +not refer to his brother's death, in language which grew at length +both manly and resigned.</p> +<p>A month after, in the summer term, he was sitting alone in his +study in the afternoon (for he could not summon up spirit enough to +play regularly at cricket), writing a long letter to his aunt. He +spoke freely and unreservedly of his past errors,--more freely than +he had ever done before,--and expressed not only deep penitence, +but even strong hatred of his previous unworthy courses. "I can +hardly even yet realize," he added, "that I am alone here, and that +I am writing to my aunt Trevor about the death of my brother, my +noble, only brother, Vernon. Oh how my whole soul yearns towards +him. I <i>must</i> be a better boy, I <i>will</i> be better than I +have been, in the hopes of meeting him again. Indeed, indeed, dear +aunt, though I have been so guilty, I am laying aside, with all my +might, idleness and all bad habits, and doing my very best to +redeem the lost years. I do hope that the rest of my time at Roslyn +will be more worthily spent than any of it has been as yet."</p> +<p>He finished the sentence, and laid his pen down to think, gazing +quietly on the blue hills and sunlit sea. A feeling of hope and +repose stole over him;--when suddenly he saw at the door, which was +ajar, the leering eyes and villainously cunning countenance of +Billy.</p> +<p>"What do you want?" he said angrily, casting at the intruder a +look of intense disgust.</p> +<p>"Beg pardon, sir," said the man, pulling his hair. "Anything in +my line, sir, to-day?"</p> +<p>"No!" answered Eric, rising up in a gust of indignation. "What +business have you here? Get away instantly."</p> +<p>"Not had much custom from you lately, sir," said the man.</p> +<p>"What do you mean by having the insolence to begin talking to +me? If you don't make yourself scarce at once, I'll--"</p> +<p>"O well," said the man; "if it comes to that, I've business +enough. Perhaps you'll just pay me this debt," he continued, +changing his fawning manner into a bullying swagger. "I've waited +long enough."</p> +<p>Eric, greatly discomfited, took the dirty bit of paper. It +purported to be a bill for various items of drink, all of which +Eric <i>knew</i> to have been paid for, and among other things, a +charge of £6 for the dinner at the "Jolly Herring."</p> +<p>"Why, you villain, these have all been paid. What! six pounds +for the dinner! Why Brigson collected the subscriptions to pay for +it before it took place."</p> +<p>"That's now't to me, sir. He never paid me; and as you was the +young gen'lman in the cheer, I comes to you."</p> +<p><i>Now</i> Eric knew for the first time what Brigson had meant +by his threatened revenge. He saw at once that the man had been put +up to act in this way by some one, and had little doubt that +Brigson was the instigator. Perhaps it might be even true, as the +man said, that he had never received the money. Brigson was quite +wicked enough to have embezzled it for his own purposes.</p> +<p>"Go," he said to the man; "you shall have the money in a +week."</p> +<p>"And mind it bean't more nor a week. I don't chuse to wait for +my money no more," said Billy, impudently, as he retired with an +undisguised chuckle, which very nearly made Eric kick him down +stairs.</p> +<p>What was to be done? To mention the subject to Owen or Montagu, +who were best capable of advising him, would have been to renew the +memory of unpleasant incidents, which he was most anxious to +obliterate from the memory of all. He had not the moral courage to +face the natural consequences of his past misconduct, and was now +ashamed to speak of what he had not then been ashamed to do. He +told Graham and Wildney, who were the best of his old associates, +and they at once agreed that <i>they</i> ought to be responsible +for at least a share of the debt. Still, between them they could +only muster three pounds out of the six which were required, and +the week had half elapsed before there seemed any prospect of +extrication from the difficulty; so Eric daily grew more miserable +and dejected.</p> +<p>A happy thought struck him. He would go and explain the source +of his trouble to Mr. Rose, his oldest, his kindest, his wisest +friend. To him he could speak without scruple and without reserve, +and from him he knew that he would receive nothing but the noblest +advice and the warmest sympathy.</p> +<p>He went to him after prayers that night, and told his story.</p> +<p>"Ah, Eric, Eric!" said Mr. Rose; "you see, my boy, that sin and +punishment are twins."</p> +<p>"O but, sir, I was just striving so hard to amend, and it seems +cruel that I should receive at once so sad a check."</p> +<p>"There is only one way that I see, Eric. You must write home for +the money, and confess the truth to them honestly, as you have to +me."</p> +<p>It was a hard course for Eric's proud and loving heart to write +and tell his aunt the full extent of his guilt. But he did it +faithfully, extenuating nothing, and entreating her, as she loved +him, to send the money by return of post.</p> +<p>It came, and with it a letter full of deep and gentle affection. +Mrs. Trevor knew her nephew's character, and did not add by +reproaches to the bitterness which she perceived he had endured; +she simply sent him the money, and told him, that in spite of his +many failures, "she still had perfect confidence in the true heart +of her dear boy."</p> +<p>Touched by the affection which all seemed to be showing him, it +became more and more the passionate craving of Eric's soul to be +worthy of that love. But it is far, far harder to recover a lost +path than to keep in the right one all along; and by one more +terrible fall, the poor erring boy was to be taught for the last +time the fearful strength of temptation, and the only source in +earth and heaven from which deliverance can come. Theoretically he +knew it, but as yet not practically. Great as his trials had been, +and deeply as he had suffered, it was God's will that he should +pass through a yet fiercer flame ere he could be purified from +pride and passion and self-confidence, and led to the cross of a +suffering Saviour, there to fling himself down in heart-rending +humility, and cast his great load of cares and sins upon Him who +cared for him through all his wanderings, and was leading him back +through thorny places to the green pastures and still waters, where +at last he might have rest.</p> +<p>The money came, and walking off straight to the Jolly Herring, +he dashed it down on the table before Billy, and imperiously bade +him write a receipt. The man did so, but with so unmistakable an +air of cunning and triumph that Eric was both astonished and +dismayed. Could the miscreant have any further plot against him? At +first he fancied that Billy might attempt to extort money by a +threat of telling Dr. Rowlands; but this supposition he banished as +unlikely since it might expose Billy himself to very unpleasant +consequences. Eric snatched the receipt, and said contemptuously, +"Never come near me again; next time you come up to the studies +I'll tell Carter to turn you out."</p> +<p>"Ho, ho, ho!" sneered Billy. "How mighty we young gents are all +of a sudden. Unless you buy of me sometimes, you shall hear of me +again; never fear, young gen'lman." He shouted out the latter +words, for Eric had turned scornfully on his heel, and was already +in the street. Obviously more danger was to be apprehended from +this quarter. At first the thought of it was disquieting, but three +weeks glided away, and Eric, now absorbed heart and soul in school +work, began to remember it as a mere vague and idle threat. But one +afternoon, to his horror, he again heard Billy's step on the +stairs, and again saw the hateful iniquitous face at the door.</p> +<p>"Not much custom from you lately, sir," said Billy, mockingly. +"Anything in my line to-day."</p> +<p>"Didn't I tell you never to come near me again, you foul +villain? Go this instant, or I'll call Carter;" and, opening the +window, he prepared to put his threat into execution.</p> +<p>"Ho, ho, ho! Better look at summat I've got first." It was a +printed notice to the following effect--</p> +<p>"FIVE POUNDS REWARD.</p> +<p>"WHEREAS some evil-disposed persons stole some pigeons on the +evening of April 6th from the Rev. H. Gordon's premises; the above +reward will be given for any such information as may lead to the +apprehension of the offenders."</p> +<p>Soon after the seizure of the pigeons there had been a rumor +that Gordon had offered a reward of this kind, but the matter had +been forgotten, and the boys had long fancied their secret secure, +though at first they had been terribly alarmed.</p> +<p>"What do you show me that for?" he asked, reddening and then +growing pale again.</p> +<p>Billy's only answer was to pass his finger slowly along the +words "Five pounds reward!"</p> +<p>"Well?"</p> +<p>"I thinks I knows who took them pigeons."</p> +<p>"What's that to me?"</p> +<p>"Ho, ho, ho! that's a good un," was Billy's reply; and he +continued to cackle as though enjoying a great joke.</p> +<p>"Unless you gives me five pound, anyhow, I knows where to get +'em. I know who them evil-disposed persons be! So I'll give ye +another week to decide."</p> +<p>Billy shambled off in high spirits; but Eric sank back into his +chair. Five pounds! The idea haunted him. How could he ever get +them? To write home again was out of the question. The Trevors, +though liberal, were not rich, and after just sending him so large +a sum, it was impossible, he thought, that they should send him +five pounds more at his mere request. Besides, how could he be sure +that Billy would not play upon his fears to extort further sums? +And to explain the matter to them fully was more than he could +endure. He remembered now how easily his want of caution might have +put Billy in possession of the secret, and he knew enough of the +fellow's character to feel quite sure of the use he would be +inclined to make of it. Oh how he cursed that hour of folly!</p> +<p>Five pounds! He began to think of what money he could procure. +He thought again and again, but it was no use; only one thing was +clear--he <i>had</i>, not the money, and could not get it. +Miserable boy! It was too late then! for him repentance was to be +made impossible; every time he attempted it he was to be thwarted +by some fresh discovery. And, leaning his head on his open palms, +poor Eric sobbed like a child.</p> +<p>Five pounds! And all this misery was to come upon him for the +want of five pounds! Expulsion was <i>certain</i>, was +<i>inevitable</i> now, and perhaps for Wildney too as well as for +himself. After all his fine promises in his letters home,--yes, +that reminded him of Vernon. The grave had not closed for a month +over one brother, and the other would be <i>expelled</i>. Oh +misery, misery! He was sure it would break his mother's heart. Oh +how cruel everything was to him!</p> +<p>Five pounds--he wondered whether Montagu would lend it him, or +any other boy? But then it was late in the quarter, and all the +boys would have spent the money they brought with them from home. +There was no chance of any one having five pounds, and to a master +he <i>dare</i> not apply, not even to Mr. Rose. The offence was too +serious to be overlooked, and if noticed at all, he fancied that, +after his other delinquencies, it <i>must</i>, as a matter of +notoriety, be visited with expulsion. He could not face that bitter +thought; he could not thus bring open disgrace upon his father's +and his brother's name; this was the fear which kept recurring to +him with dreadful iteration.</p> +<p>By the bye, he remembered that if he had continued captain of +the school eleven, he would have had easy command of the money by +being treasurer of the cricket subscriptions. But at Vernon's death +he lost all interest in cricket for a time, and had thrown up his +office, to which Montagu had been elected by the general +suffrage.</p> +<p>He wondered whether there was as much as five pounds of the +cricketing-money left? He knew that the box which contained it was +in Montagu's study, and he also knew where the key was kept. It was +merely a feeling of curiosity--he would go and look.</p> +<p>All this passed through Eric's mind as he sat in his study after +Billy had gone. It was a sultry summer day; all the study-doors +were open, and all their occupants were absent in the +cricket-field, or bathing. He stole into Montagu's study, hastily +got the key, and took down the box.</p> +<p>"O put it down, put it down, Eric," said Conscience; "what +business have you with it?"</p> +<p>"Pooh! it is merely curiosity; as if I couldn't trust +myself!"</p> +<p>"Put it down," repeated Conscience authoritatively, deigning no +longer to argue or entreat.</p> +<p>Eric hesitated, and did put down the box; but he did not +instantly leave the room. He began to look at Montagu's books, and +then out of the window. The gravel play-ground was deserted, he +noticed, for the cricket-field. Nobody was near, therefore. Well, +what of that? he was doing no harm.</p> +<p>"Nonsense! I <i>will</i> just look and see if there's five +pounds in the cricket-box." Slowly at first he put out his hand, +and then, hastily turning the key, opened the box. It contained +three pounds in gold, and a quantity of silver. He began to count +the silver, putting it on the table, and found that it made up +three pounds ten more. "So that, altogether, there's six pounds +ten; that's thirty shillings more than ...and it won't be wanted +till next summer term, because all the bats and balls are bought +now. I daresay Montagu won't even open the box again. I know he +keeps it stowed away in a corner, and hardly ever looks at it, and +I can put back the five pounds the very first day of next term, and +it will save me from expulsion."</p> +<p>Very slowly Eric took the three sovereigns and put them in his +pocket, and then he took up one of the heaps of shillings and +sixpences which he had counted, and dropped them also into his +trousers; they fell into the pocket with a great jingle....</p> +<p>"Eric, you are a thief!" He thought he heard his brother +Vernon's voice utter the words thrillingly distinct; but it was +conscience who had borrowed the voice, and, sick with horror, he +began to shake the money out of his pockets again into the box. He +was only just in time; he had barely locked the box, and put it in +its place, when he heard the sound of voices and footsteps on the +stairs. He had no time to take out the key and put it back where he +found it, and had hardly time to slip into his own study again, +when the boys had reached the landing.</p> +<p>They were Duncan and Montagu, and as they passed the door, Eric +pretended to be plunged in books.</p> +<p>"Hallo, Eric! grinding as usual," said Duncan, good-humoredly; +but he only got a sickly smile in reply.</p> +<p>"What! are you the only fellow in the studies?" asked Montagu. +"I was nearly sure I heard some one moving about as we came up +stairs."</p> +<p>"I don't think there's any one here but me," said Eric, "and I'm +going a walk now."</p> +<p>He closed his books with, a bang, flew down stairs, and away +through the play-ground towards the shore But he could not so +escape his thoughts. "Eric, you are a thief! Eric, you are a +thief!" rang in his ear. "Yes," he thought; "I am even a thief. Oh, +good God, yes, <i>even</i> a <i>thief</i>, for I <i>had</i> +actually stolen the money, until I changed my mind. What if they +should discover the key in the box, knowing that I was the only +fellow up stairs? Oh, mercy, mercy, mercy!"</p> +<p>It was a lonely place, and he flung himself, with his face hid +in the coarse grass, trying to cool the wild burning of his brow. +And as he lay, he thrust his hand into the guilty pocket. Good +heavens! there was something still there. He pulled it out; it was +a sovereign! Then he WAS a thief, even actually. Oh, everything was +against him; and, starting to his feet, he flung the accursed gold +over the rocks far into the sea.</p> +<p>When he got home he felt so inconceivably wretched that, unable +to work, he begged leave to go to bed at once. It was long before +he fell asleep; but when he did, the sleep was more terrible than +the haunted wakefulness. For he had no rest from tormenting and +horrid dreams. Brigson and Billy, their bodies grown to gigantic +proportions, and their faces fierce with demoniacal wickedness, +seemed to be standing over him, and demanding five pounds on pain +of death. Flights of pigeons darkening the air, settled on him, and +flapped about him. He fled from them madly through the dark +midnight, but many steps pursued him. He saw Mr. Rose, and running +up, seized him by the hand, and implored protection. But in his +dream Mr. Rose turned from him with a cold look of sorrowful +reproach. And then he saw Wildney, and cried out to him, "O +Charlie, save me;" but Charlie ran away, saying, "Williams, you are +a thief!" and then a chorus of voices took up that awful cry, +voices of expostulation, voices of contempt, voices of indignation, +voices of menace; they took up the cry, and repeated and re-echoed +it; but, most unendurable of all, there were voices of wailing and +voices of gentleness among them, and his soul died within him as he +caught, amid the confusion of condemning sounds, the voices of +Russell and Vernon, and they, too, were saying to him, in tender +pity and agonized astonishment, "Eric, Eric, you are a thief!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<br> +<h3>REAPING THE WHIRLWIND</h3> +<blockquote>"For alas! alas! with me<br> +The light of life is o'er;<br> +No more--no more--no more<br> +(Such language holds the solemn sea<br> +To the sands upon the shore)<br> +Shall bloom the thunder-blasted tree,<br> +Or the stricken eagle soar!"<br> +<br> +EDGAR A. POE.</blockquote> +<p>The landlord of the Jolly Herring had observed during his visits +to Eric, that at mid-day the studies were usually deserted, and the +doors for the most part left unlocked. He very soon determined to +make use of this knowledge for his own purposes, and as he was well +acquainted with the building (in which for a short time he had been +a servant), he laid his plans without the least dread of +discovery.</p> +<p>There was a back entrance into Roslyn school behind the chapel, +and it could be reached by a path through the fields without any +chance of being seen, if a person set warily to work and watched +his opportunity. By this path Billy came, two days after his last +visit, and walked straight up the great staircase, armed with the +excuse of business with Eric in case any one met or questioned him. +But no one was about, since between twelve and one the boys were +pretty sure to be amusing themselves out of doors; and after +glancing into each of the studies, Billy finally settled on +searching Montagu's (which was the neatest and best furnished), to +see what he could get.</p> +<p>The very first thing which caught his experienced eye was the +cricket-fund box, with the key temptingly in the lock, just where +Eric had left it when the sounds of some one coming had startled +him. In a moment Billy had made a descent on the promising-looking +booty, and opening his treasure, saw, with lively feelings of +gratification, the unexpected store of silver and gold. This he +instantly transferred to his own pocket, and then replacing the box +where he had found it, decamped with the spoil unseen, leaving the +study in all other respects exactly as he had found it.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the unhappy Eric was tossed and agitated with +apprehension and suspense. Unable to endure his misery in +loneliness, he had made several boys to a greater or less degree +participators in the knowledge of his difficult position, and in +the sympathy which his danger excited, the general nature of his +dilemma with Billy (though not its special circumstances) was soon +known through the school.</p> +<p>At the very time when the money was being stolen, Eric was +sitting with Wildney and Graham under the ruin by the shore, and +the sorrow which lay at his heart was sadly visible in the anxious +expression of his face, and the deep dejection of his attitude and +manner.</p> +<p>The other two were trying to console him. They suggested every +possible topic of hope; but it was too plain that there was nothing +to be said, and that Eric had real cause to fear the worst. Yet +though their arguments were futile, he keenly felt the genuineness +of their affection, and it brought a little alleviation to his +heavy mood.</p> +<p>"Well, well; at least <i>do</i> hope the best, Eric," said +Graham.</p> +<p>"Yes!" urged Wildney; "only think, dear old fellow, what lots of +worse scrapes we've been in before, and how we've always managed to +get out of them somehow."</p> +<p>"No, my boy; not worse scrapes," answered Eric. "Depend upon it +this is the last for me; I shall not have the chance of getting +into another at <i>Roslyn</i>, anyhow."</p> +<p>"Poor Eric! what shall I do if you leave?" said Wildney, putting +his arm round Eric's neck. "Besides it's all my fault, hang it, +that you got into this cursed row."</p> +<blockquote>"'The curse is come upon, me, cried<br> +The Lady of Shallott,'</blockquote> +<p>"those words keep ringing in my ears," murmured Eric.</p> +<p>"Well, Eric, if <i>you</i> are sent away, I know I shall get my +father to take me too, and then we'll join each other somewhere. +Come, cheer up, old boy--being sent isn't such a very frightful +thing after all."</p> +<p>"No" said Graham; "and besides, the bagging of the pigeons was +only a lark, when one comes to think of it. It wasn't like +stealing, you know; <i>that</i>'d be quite a different thing."</p> +<p>Eric winced visibly at this remark, but his companions did not +notice it. "Ah," thought he, "there's <i>one</i> passage of my life +which I never shall be able to reveal to any human soul."</p> +<p>"Come now, Eric," said Wildney, "I've got something to propose. +You shall play cricket to-day; you haven't played for an age, and +it's high time you should. If you don't you'll go mooning about the +shore all day, and that'll never do, for you'll come back glummer +than ever."</p> +<p>"No!" said Eric, with a heavy sigh, as the image of Vernon +instantly passed through his mind; "no more cricket for me."</p> +<p>"Nay, but you <i>must</i> play to-day. Come, you shan't say no. +You won't say no to me, will you, dear old fellow?" And Wildney +looked up to him with that pleasant smile, and the merry light in +his dark eyes, which had always been so charming to Eric's +fancy.</p> +<p>"There's no refusing you," said Eric with the ghost of a laugh, +as he boxed Wildney's ears. "O you dear little rogue, Charlie, I +wish I were you."</p> +<p>"Pooh! pooh! now you shan't get sentimental again. As if you +wern't fifty times better than me every way. I'm sure I don't know +how I shall ever love you enough, Eric," he added more seriously, +"for all your kindness to me."</p> +<p>"I'm so glad you're going to play, though," said Graham; "and so +will everybody be; and I'm certain it'll be good for you. The game +will divert your thoughts."</p> +<p>So that afternoon Eric, for the first time since Verny's death, +played with the first eleven, of which he had been captain. The +school cheered him vigorously as he appeared again on the field, +and the sound lighted up his countenance with some gleam of its old +joyousness. When one looked at him that day with his straw hat on +and its neat light-blue ribbon, and the cricket dress (a pink +jersey and leather belt, with a silver clasp in front), showing off +his well-built and graceful figure, one little thought what an +agony was gnawing like a serpent at his heart. But that day, poor +boy, in the excitement of the game he half forgot it himself, and +more and more as the game went on.</p> +<p>The other side, headed by Montagu, went in first, and Eric +caught out two, and bowled several. Montagu was the only one who +stayed in long, and when at last Eric sent his middle wicket flying +with a magnificent ball, the shouts of "well bowled! well bowled +<i>indeed</i>," were universal.</p> +<p>"Just listen to that, Eric," said Montagu; "why, you're +out-doing every body to-day, yourself included, and taking us by +storm."</p> +<p>"Wait till you see me come out for a duck," said Eric +laughing.</p> +<p>"Not you. You're too much in luck to come out with a duck," +answered Montagu. "You see I've already become the Homer of your +triumphs, and vaticinate in rhyme."</p> +<p>And now it was Eric's turn to go in. It was long since he had +stood before the wicket, but now he was there, looking like a +beautiful picture as the sunlight streamed over him, and made his +fair hair shine like gold. In the triumph of success his sorrows +were flung to the winds, and his blue eyes sparkled with interest +and joy.</p> +<p>He contented himself with blocking Duncan's balls until his eye +was in; but then, acquiring confidence, he sent them flying right +and left. His score rapidly mounted, and there seemed no chance of +getting him out, so that there was every probability of his +carrying out his bat.</p> +<p>"Oh, <i>well</i> hit! <i>well</i> hit! A three'r for Eric," +cried Wildney to the scorer; and he began to clap his hands and +dance about with excitement at his friend's success.</p> +<p>"Oh, well hit! well hit in--deed!" shouted all the lookers on, +as Eric caught the next ball half-volley, and sent it whizzing over +the hedge, getting a sixer by the hit.</p> +<p>At the next ball they heard a great crack, and he got no run, +for the handle of his bat broke right off.</p> +<p>"How unlucky!" he said, flinging down the handle with vexation. +"I believe this was our best bat."</p> +<p>"Oh, never mind," said Montagu; "we can soon get another; we've +got lots of money in the box."</p> +<p>What had come over Eric? if there had been a sudden breath of +poison in the atmosphere he could hardly have been more affected +than he was by Montagu's simple remark. Montagu could not help +noticing it, but at the time merely attributed it to some unknown +gust of feeling, and made no comment. But Eric, hastily borrowing +another bat, took his place again quite tamely; he was trembling, +and at the very next ball, he spooned a miserable catch into +Graham's hand, and the shout of triumph from the other side +proclaimed that his innings was over.</p> +<p>He walked dejectedly to the pavilion for his coat, and the boys, +who were seated in crowds about it, received him, of course, after +his brilliant score, with loud and continued plaudits. But the +light had died away from his face and figure, and he never raised +his eyes from the ground.</p> +<p>"Modest Eric!" said Wildney chaffingly, "you don't acknowledge +your honors."</p> +<p>Eric dropped his bat in the corner, put his coat across his arm, +and walked away. As he passed Wildney, he stooped down and +whispered again in a low voice--</p> +<blockquote>"'The curse has come upon me, cried<br> +The Lady of Shallott.'"</blockquote> +<p>"Hush, Eric, nonsense," whispered Wildney; "you're not going +away," he continued aloud, as Eric turned towards the school. "Why, +there are only two more to go in!"</p> +<p>"Yes, thank you, I must go."</p> +<p>"Oh, then, I'll come too."</p> +<p>Wildney at once joined his friend. "There's nothing more the +matter, is there?" he asked anxiously, when they were out of +hearing of the rest.</p> +<p>"God only knows."</p> +<p>"Well, let's change the subject. You've being playing +brilliantly, old fellow."</p> +<p>"Have I?"</p> +<p>"I should just think so, only you got out in rather a stupid +way."</p> +<p>"Ah well! it matters very little."</p> +<p>Just at this moment one of the servants handed Eric a kind note +from Mrs. Rowlands, with whom he was a very great favorite, asking +him to tea that night. He was not very surprised, for he had been +several times lately, and the sweet womanly kindness which she +always showed him caused him the greatest pleasure. Besides, she +had known his mother.</p> +<p>"Upon my word, honors <i>are</i> being showered on you!" said +Wildney. "First to get <i>the</i> score of the season at cricket, +and bowl out about half the other side, and then go to tea with the +head-master. Upon my word! Why any of us poor wretches would give +our two ears for such distinctions. Talk of curse indeed! +Fiddlestick end!"</p> +<p>But Eric's sorrow lay too deep for chaff, and only answering +with a sigh, he went to dress for tea.</p> +<p>Just before tea-time Duncan, and Montagu strolled in together. +"How splendidly Eric played," said Duncan.</p> +<p>"Yes, indeed. I'm so glad. By the bye, I must see about getting +a new bat. I don't know exactly how much money we've got, but I +know there's plenty. Let's come and see."</p> +<p>They entered his study, and he looked about everywhere for the +key. "Hallo," he said, "I'm nearly sure I left it in the corner of +this drawer, under some other things; but it isn't there now. What +can have become of it?"</p> +<p>"Where's the box?" said Duncan; "let's see if any of my keys +will fit it. Hallo! why <i>you're</i> a nice treasurer, Monty! +here's the key <i>in</i> the box!"</p> +<p>"No, is it though?" asked Montagu, looking serious. "Here, give +it me; I hope nobody's been meddling with it."</p> +<p>He opened it quickly, and stood in dumb and blank amazement to +see it empty.</p> +<p>"Phew-w-w-w!" Montagu gave a long whistle.</p> +<p>"By Jove!" was Duncan's only comment.</p> +<p>The boys looked at each other, but neither dared to express what +was in his thoughts.</p> +<p>"A bad, bad business! what's to be done, Monty?"</p> +<p>"I'll rush straight down to tea, and ask the fellows about it. +Would you mind requesting Rose not to come in for five minutes? +Tell him there's a row."</p> +<p>He ran down stairs hastily and entered the tea-room, where the +boys were talking in high spirits about the match, and liberally +praising Eric's play.</p> +<p>"I've got something unpleasant to say," he announced, raising +his voice.</p> +<p>"Hush! hush! hush! what's the row?" asked half a dozen at +once.</p> +<p>"The whole of the cricket money, some six pounds at least, has +vanished from the box in my study!"</p> +<p>For an instant the whole room was silent; Wildney and Graham +interchanged anxious glances.</p> +<p>"Does any fellow know anything about this?"</p> +<p>All, or most, had a vague suspicion, but no one spoke.</p> +<p>"Where is Williams?" asked one of the sixth form casually.</p> +<p>"He's taking tea with the Doctor," said Wildney.</p> +<p>Mr. Rose came in, and there was no opportunity for more to be +said, except in confidential whispers.</p> +<p>Duncan went up with Owen and Montagu to their study. "What's to +be done?" was the general question.</p> +<p>"I think we've all had a lesson once before not to suspect too +hastily. Still, in a matter like this," said Montagu, "one +<i>must</i> take notice of apparent cues."</p> +<p>"I know what you're thinking of, Monty," said Duncan.</p> +<p>"Well, then, did you hear anything when you and I surprised Eric +suddenly two days ago?"</p> +<p>"I heard some one moving about in your study, as I thought."</p> +<p>"I heard more--though at the time it didn't strike me +particularly. I distinctly heard the jingle of money."</p> +<p>"Well, it's no good counting up suspicious circumstances; we +must <i>ask</i> him about it, and act accordingly.'</p> +<p>"Will he come up to the studies again to-night?"</p> +<p>"I think not," said Owen; "I notice he generally goes straight +to bed after he has been out to tea; that's to say, directly after +prayers."</p> +<p>The three sat there till prayer-time taciturn and thoughtful. +Their books were open, but they did little work, and it was evident +that Montagu was filled with the most touching grief. During the +evening he drew out a little likeness which Eric had given him, and +looked at it long and earnestly. "Is it possible?" he thought. "Oh +Eric! can that face be the face of a thief?"</p> +<p>The prayer-bell dispelled his reverie. Eric entered with the +Rowlands, and sat in his accustomed place. He had spent a pleasant, +quiet evening, and, little knowing what had happened, felt far more +cheerful and hopeful than he had done before, although he was still +ignorant how to escape the difficulty which threatened him.</p> +<p>He couldn't help observing that as he entered he was the object +of general attention; but he attributed it either to his playing +that day, or to the circumstances in which he was placed by Billy's +treachery, of which he knew that many boys were now aware. But when +prayers were over, and he saw that every one shunned him, or looked +and spoke in the coldest manner, his most terrible fears +revived.</p> +<p>He went off to his dormitory, and began to undress. As he sat +half abstracted on his bed doing nothing Montagu and Duncan +entered, and he started to see them, for they were evidently the +bearers of some serious intelligence.</p> +<p>"Eric," said Duncan, "do you know that some one has stolen all +the cricket money?"</p> +<p>"Stolen--what--<i>all</i>?" he cried, leaping up as if he had +been shot. "Oh, what new retribution is this?" and he hid his face, +which had turned ashy pale, in his hands.</p> +<p>"To cut matters short, Eric, do you know anything about it?"</p> +<p>"If it is all gone, it is not I who stole it," he said, not +lifting his head.</p> +<p>"Do you know anything about it?"</p> +<p>"No!" he sobbed convulsively. "No, no, no! Yet stop; don't let +me add a lie.... Let me think. No, Duncan!" he said, looking up, "I +do <i>not</i> know who stole it."</p> +<p>They stood silent, and the tears were stealing down Montagu's +averted face.</p> +<p>"O Duncan, Monty, be merciful, be merciful," said Eric. "Don't +<i>yet</i> condemn me. <i>I</i> am guilty, not of <i>this</i>, but +of something as bad. I admit I was tempted; but if the money really +is all gone, it is <i>not</i> I who am the thief."</p> +<p>"You must know, Eric, that the suspicion against you is very +strong, and rests on some definite facts."</p> +<p>"Yes, I know it must. Yet, oh, do be merciful, and don't yet +condemn me. I have denied it. Am I a liar Monty? Oh Monty, Monty, +believe me in this."</p> +<p>But the boys still stood silent.</p> +<p>"Well, then," he said, "I will tell you all. But I can only tell +it to you, Monty. Duncan, indeed you mustn't be angry; you are my +friend, but not so much as Monty. I can tell him, and him +only."</p> +<p>Duncan left the room, and Montagu sat down beside Eric on the +bed, and put his arm round him to support him, for he shook +violently. There, with deep and wild emotion, and many +interruptions of passionate silence, Eric told to Montagu his +miserable tale. "I am the most wretched fellow living," he said; +"there must be some fiend that hates me, and drives me to ruin. But +let it all come; I care nothing, nothing, what happens to me now. +Only, dear, dear Monty, forgive me, and love me still."</p> +<p>"O Eric, it is not for one like me to talk of forgiveness; you +were sorely tempted. Yet God will forgive you if you ask him. Won't +you pray to him to-night? I love you, Eric, still, with all my +heart, and do you think God can be less kind than man? And +<i>I</i>, too, will pray for you, Eric. Good night, and God bless +you" He gently disengaged himself--for Eric clung to him, and +seemed unwilling to lose sight of him--and a moment after he was +gone.</p> +<p>Eric felt terribly alone. He knelt down and tried to pray, but +somehow it didn't seem as if the prayer came from his heart, and +his thoughts began instantly to wander far away. Still he +knelt--knelt even until his candle had gone out, and he had nearly +fallen asleep, thought-wearied, on his knees. And then he got into +bed still dressed. He had been making up his mind that he could +bear it no longer, and would run away to sea that night.</p> +<p>He waited till eleven, when Dr. Rowlands took his rounds. The +Doctor had been told all the circumstances of suspicion, and they +amounted in his mind to certainty. It made him very sad, and he +stopped to look at the boy from whom he had parted on such friendly +terms so short a time before. Eric did not pretend to be asleep, +but opened his eyes, and looked at the head-master. Very +sorrowfully Dr. Rowlands shook his head, and went away. Eric never +saw him again.</p> +<p>The moment he was gone Eric got up. He meant to go to his study, +collect the few presents, which were his dearest mementos of +Russell, Wildney, and his other friends--above all, Vernon's +likeness--and then make his escape from the building, using for the +last time the broken pane and loosened bar in the corridor, with +which past temptations had made him so familiar.</p> +<p>He turned the handle of the door and pushed, but it did not +yield. Half contemplating the possibility of such an intention on +Eric's part, Dr. Rowlands had locked it behind him when he went +out.</p> +<p>"Ha!" thought the boy, "then he, too, knows and suspects. Never +mind. I must give up my treasures--yes, even poor Verny's picture; +perhaps it is best I should, for I'm only disgracing his noble +memory. But they shan't prevent me from running away."</p> +<p>Once more he deliberated. Yes, there could be no doubt about the +decision. He <i>could</i>, not endure another public expulsion, or +even another birching; he <i>could</i> not endure the cold faces of +even his best friends. No, no! he <i>could</i> not face the +horrible phantom of detection, and exposure, and shame. Escape he +must.</p> +<p>After using all his strength in long-continued efforts, he +succeeded in loosening the bar of his bed-room window. He then took +his two sheets, tied them together in a firm knot, wound one end +tightly round the remaining bar, and let the other fall down the +side of the building. He took one more glance round his little +room, and then let himself down by the sheet, hand under hand, +until he could drop to the ground. Once safe, he ran towards +Starhaven as fast as he could, and felt as if he were flying for +his life. But when he got to the end of the playground he could not +help stopping to take one more longing, lingering look at the +scenes he was leaving for ever. It was a chilly and overclouded +night, and by the gleams of struggling moonlight, he saw the whole +buildings standing out black in the night air. The past lay behind +him like a painting. Many and many unhappy or guilty hours had he +spent in that home, and yet those last four years had not gone by +without their own wealth of life and joy. He remembered how he had +first walked across that playground, hand in hand with his father, +a little boy of twelve. He remembered his first troubles with +Barker, and how his father had at last delivered him from the +annoyances of his old enemy. He remembered how often he and Russell +had sat there, looking at the sea, in pleasant talk, especially the +evening when he had got his first prize and head remove in the +lower fourth; and how, in the night of Russell's death, he had +gazed over that playground from the sick-room window. He remembered +how often he had got cheered there for his feats at cricket and +football, and how often he and Upton in old days, and he and +Wildney afterwards, had walked there on Sundays, arm in arm. Then +the stroll to Port Island, and Barker's plot against him, and the +evening at the Stack passed through his mind; and the dinner at the +Jolly Herring, and, above all, Vernon's death. Oh! how awful it +seemed to him now, as he looked through the darkness at the very +road along which they had brought Verny's dead body. Then his +thoughts turned to the theft of the pigeons, his own drunkenness, +and then his last cruel, cruel experiences, and this dreadful end +of the day which, for an hour or two, had seemed <i>so</i> bright +on that very spot where he stood. Could it be that this (oh, how +little he had ever dreamed of it)--that this was to be the +conclusion of his school days?</p> +<p>Yes, in those rooms, of which the windows fronted him, there +they lay, all his schoolfellows--Montagu, and Wildney, and Duncan, +and all whom he cared for best. And there was Mr. Rose's light +still burning in the library window; and he was leaving the school +and those who had been with him there so long, in the dark night, +by stealth, penniless and broken-hearted, with the shameful +character of a thief.</p> +<p>Suddenly Mr. Rose's light moved, and, fearing discovery or +interception, he roused himself from the bitter reverie and fled to +Starhaven through the darkness. There was still a light in the +little sailors' tavern; and, entering, he asked the woman who kept +it, "if she knew of any ship which was going to sail next +morning?"</p> +<p>"Why, your'n is, bean't it, Maister Davey!" she asked, turning +to a rough-looking sailor, who sat smoking in the bar.</p> +<p>"Ees," grunted the man.</p> +<p>"Will you take me on board?" said Eric.</p> +<p>"You be a runaway, I'm thinking?"</p> +<p>"Never mind. I'll come as cabin-boy--anything."</p> +<p>The sailor glanced at his striking appearance and neat dress. +"Hardly in the cabun-buoy line I should say."</p> +<p>"Will you take me?" said Eric. "You'll find me strong and +willing enough."</p> +<p>"Well--if the skipper don't say no. Come along."</p> +<p>They went down to a boat, and "Maister Davey" rowed to a +schooner in the harbor, and took Eric on board.</p> +<p>"There," he said, "you may sleep there for to-night," and he +pointed to a great heap of sailcloth beside the mast.</p> +<p>Weary to death, Eric flung himself down, and slept deep and +sound till the morning, on board the "Stormy Petrel."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<br> +<h3>THE STORMY PETREL</h3> +<blockquote>"They hadna sailed a league, a league,<br> +A league, but barely three,<br> +When the lift grew dark, and the wind grew high,<br> +And gurly grew the sea."<br> +SIR PATRICK SPENS.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>"Hilloa!" exclaimed the skipper with a sudden start, next +morning, as he saw Eric's recumbent figure on the ratlin-stuff, +"Who be this young varmint!"</p> +<p>"Oh, I brought him aboord last night," said Davey; "he wanted to +be cabun-buoy."</p> +<p>"Precious like un <i>he</i> looks. Never mind, we've got him and +we'll use him."</p> +<p>The vessel was under way when Eric woke, and collected his +scattered thoughts to a remembrance of his new position. At first, +as the Stormy Petrel dashed its way gallantly through the blue sea, +he felt one absorbing sense of joy to have escaped from Roslyn. But +before he had been three hours on board, his eyes were opened to +the trying nature of his circumstances, which were, indeed, +<i>so</i> trying that <i>anything</i> in the world seemed +preferable to enduring them. He had not been three hours on board +when he would have given everything in his power to be back again; +but such regrets were useless, for the vessel was now fairly on her +way for Corunna, where she was to take in a cargo of cattle.</p> +<p>There were eight men belonging to the crew; and as the ship was +only a little trading schooner, these were sailors of the lowest +and meanest grade. They all seemed to take their cue from the +captain, who was a drunken, blaspheming, and cruel vagabond.</p> +<p>This man from the first took a savage hatred to Eric, partly +because he was annoyed with Davey for bringing him on board. The +first words he addressed to him were--</p> +<p>"I say, you young lubber, you must pay your footing."</p> +<p>"I've got nothing to pay with. I brought no money with me."</p> +<p>"Well, then, you shall give us your gran' clothes. Them things +isn't fit for a cabin-boy."</p> +<p>Eric saw no remedy, and making a virtue of necessity, exchanged +his good cloth suit for a rough sailor's shirt and trowsers, not +over clean, which the captain gave him. His own clothes were at +once appropriated by that functionary, who carried them into his +cabin. But it was lucky for Eric that, seeing how matters were +likely to go, he had succeeded in secreting his watch.</p> +<p>The day grew misty and comfortless, and towards evening the wind +rose to a storm. Eric soon began to feel very sick, and, to make +his case worse, could not endure either the taste, smell, or sight +of such coarse food as was contemptuously flung to him.</p> +<p>"Where am I to sleep?" he asked, "I feel very sick."</p> +<p>"Babby," said one of the sailors, "what's your name?"</p> +<p>"Williams."</p> +<p>"Well, Bill, you'll have to get over your sickness pretty soon, +<i>I</i> can tell ye. Here," he added, relenting a little, "Davey's +slung ye a hammock in the forecastle."</p> +<p>He showed the way, but poor Eric in the dark, and amid the +lurches of the vessel, could hardly steady himself down the +companion-ladder, much less get into his hammock. The man saw his +condition, and, sulkily enough, hove him into his place.</p> +<p>And there, in that swinging bed, where sleep seemed impossible, +and out of which, he was often thrown, when the ship rolled and +pitched through the dark, heaving, discolored waves, and with dirty +men sleeping round him at night, until the atmosphere of the +forecastle became like poison, hopelessly and helplessly sick, and +half-starved, the boy lay for two days. The crew neglected him +shamefully. It was nobody's business to wait on him, and he could +procure neither sufficient food, nor any water; they only brought +him some grog to drink, which in his weakness and sickness was +nauseous to him as medicine.</p> +<p>"I say, you young cub down there," shouted the skipper to him +from the hatchway, "come up and swab this deck."</p> +<p>He got up, and after bruising himself severely, as he stumbled +about to find the ladder, made an effort to obey the command. But +he staggered from feebleness when he reached the deck, and had to +grasp for some fresh support at every step.</p> +<p>"None of that 'ere slobbering and shamming, Bill. Why, d---- +you, what d'ye think you're here for, eh? You swab the deck, and in +five minutes, or I'll teach you, and be d---- d."</p> +<p>Sick as death, Eric slowly obeyed, but did not get through his +task without many blows and curses. He felt very ill--he had no +means of washing or cleaning himself; no brush, or comb, or soap, +or clean linen; and even his sleep seemed unrefreshful when the +waking brought no change in his condition. And then the whole life +of the ship was odious to him. His sense of refinement was +exquisitely keen, and now to be called Bill, and kicked and cuffed +about by these gross-minded men, and to hear their rough, coarse, +drunken talk, and sometimes endure their still, more intolerable +familiarities, filled him with deeply-seated loathing.</p> +<p>His whole soul rebelled and revolted from them all, and, seeing +his fastidious pride, not one of them showed him the least glimpse +of open kindness, though he observed that one of them did seem to +pity him in heart.</p> +<p>Things grew worse and worse. The perils which he had to endure +at first, when ordered about the rigging, were what affected him +least; he longed for death, and often contemplated flinging himself +into those cold deep waves which he gazed on daily over the +vessel's side. Hope was the only thing which supported him. He had +heard from one of the crew that the vessel would be back in not +more than six weeks, and he made a deeply seated resolve to escape +the very first day that they again anchored in an English +harbor.</p> +<p>The homeward voyage was even more intolerable, for the cattle on +board greatly increased the amount of necessary menial and +disgusting work which fell to his snare, as well as made the +atmosphere of the close little schooner twice as poisonous as +before. And to add to his miseries, his relations with the crew got +more and more unfavorable, and began to reach their climax.</p> +<p>One night the sailor who occupied the hammock next to his heard +him winding up his watch. This he always did in the dark, as +secretly and silently as he could, and never looked at it, except +when no one could observe him; while, during the day, he kept both +watch and chain concealed in his trousers.</p> +<p>Next morning the man made proposals to him to sell the watch, +and tried by every species of threat and promise to extort it from +him. But the watch had been his mother's gift, and he was resolute +never to part with it into such hands.</p> +<p>"Very well, you young shaver, I shall tell the skipper and he'll +soon get it out of you as your footing, depend on it."</p> +<p>The fellow was as good as his word, and the skipper demanded the +watch as pay for Eric's feed, for he maintained that he'd done no +work, and was perfectly useless. Eric, grown desperate, still +refused, and the man struck him brutally on the face, and at the +same time aimed a kick at him, which he vainly tried to avoid. It +caught him on the knee-cap, and put it out, causing him the most +excruciating agony.</p> +<p>He now could do no work whatever, not even swab the deck. It was +only with difficulty that he could limp along, and every move +caused him violent pain. He grew listless and dejected, and sat all +day on the vessel's side, eagerly straining his eyes to catch any +sight of land, or gazing vacantly into the weary sameness of sea +and sky.</p> +<p>Once, when it was rather gusty weather, all hands were wanted, +and the skipper ordered him to furl a sail.</p> +<p>"I can't," said Eric, in an accent of despair, barely stirring, +and not lifting his eyes to the man's unfeeling face.</p> +<p>"Can't, d---- you. Can't. We'll soon see whether you can or no! +You do it, or <i>I</i> shall have to mend your leg for you;" and he +showered down a storm of oaths.</p> +<p>Eric rose, and resolutely tried to mount the rigging, determined +at least to give no ground he could help to their wilful cruelty. +But the effort was vain, and with a sharp cry of suffering he +dropped once more on deck.</p> +<p>"Cursed young brat! I suppose you think we're going to bother +ourselves with you, and yer impudence, and get victuals for +nothing. It's all sham. Here, Jim, tie him up."</p> +<p>A stout sailor seized the unresisting boy, tied his hands +together, and then drew them up above his head, and strung them to +the rigging.</p> +<p>"Why didn't ye strip him first, d---- you?" roared the +skipper.</p> +<p>"He's only got that blue shirt on, and that's soon mended," said +the man, taking hold of the collar of the shirt on both sides, and +tearing it open with a great rip.</p> +<p>Eric's white back was bare, his hands tied up, his head hanging, +and his injured leg slightly lifted from the ground. "And now for +some rope-pie for the stubborn young lubber," said the skipper, +lifting a bit of rope as he spoke.</p> +<p>Eric, with a shudder, heard it whistle through the air, and the +next instant it had descended on his back with a dull thump, +rasping away a red line of flesh. Now Eric knew for the first time +the awful reality of intense pain; he had determined to utter no +sound, to give no sign; but when the horrible rope fell on him, +griding across his back, and making his body literally creak under +the blow, he quivered like an aspen-leaf in every limb, and could +not suppress the harrowing murmur, "Oh God, help me, help me."</p> +<p>Again the rope whistled in the air, again it grided across the +boy's naked back, and once more the crimson furrow bore witness to +the violent laceration. A sharp shriek of inexpressible agony rang +from his lips, so shrill, so heart-rending, that it sounded long in +the memory of all who heard it. But the brute who administered the +torture was untouched. Once more, and again, the rope rose and +fell, and under its marks the blood first dribbled, and then +streamed from the white and tender skin.</p> +<p>But Eric felt no more; that scream had been the last effort of +nature; his head had dropped on his bosom, and though his limbs +still seemed to creep at the unnatural infliction, he had fainted +away.</p> +<p>"Stop, master, stop, if you don't want to kill the boy +outright," said Roberts, one of the crew, stepping forward, while +the hot flush of indignation burned through his tanned and +weather-beaten cheek. The sailors called him "Softy Bob," from that +half-gentleness of disposition which had made him, alone of all the +men, speak one kind or consoling word for the proud and lonely +cabin-boy.</p> +<p>"Undo him then, and be--," growled the skipper and rolled off to +drink himself drunk.</p> +<p>"I doubt he's well-nigh done for him already," said Roberts, +quickly untying Eric's hands, round which the cords had been pulled +so tight as to leave two blue rings round his wrists. "Poor fellow, +poor fellow! it's all over now," he murmured soothingly, as the +boy's body fell motionless into his arms, which he hastily +stretched to prevent him from tumbling on the deck.</p> +<p>But Eric heard not; and the man, touched with the deepest pity, +carried him down tenderly into his hammock, and wrapped him up in a +clean blanket, and sat by him till the swoon should be over.</p> +<p>It lasted very long, and the sailor began to fear that his words +had been prophetic.</p> +<p>"How is the young varmint?" shouted the skipper, looking into +the forecastle.</p> +<p>"You've killed him, I think."</p> +<p>The only answer was a volley of oaths; but the fellow was +sufficiently frightened to order Roberts to do all he could for his +patient.</p> +<p>At last Eric woke with a moan. To think was too painful, but the +raw state of his back, ulcerated with the cruelty he had undergone, +reminded him too bitterly of his situation. Roberts did for him all +that could be done, but for a week Eric lay in that dark and fetid +place, in the languishing of absolute despair. Often and often the +unbidden tears flowed from very weakness from his eyes, and in the +sickness of his heart, and the torment of his wounded body, he +thought that he should die.</p> +<p>But youth is very strong, and it wrestled with despair, and +agony, and death, and, after a time, Eric could rise from his +comfortless hammock. The news that land was in sight first roused +him, and with the help of Roberts, he was carried on deck, +thankful, with childlike gratitude, that God suffered him to +breathe once more the pure air of heaven, and sit under the canopy +of its gold-pervaded blue. The breeze and the sunlight refreshed +him, as they might a broken flower; and, with eyes upraised, he +poured from his heart a prayer of deep unspeakable thankfulness to +a Father in Heaven.</p> +<p>Yes! at last he had remembered his Father's home. There, in the +dark berth, where every move caused irritation, and the unclean +atmosphere brooded over his senses like lead; when his forehead +burned, and his heart melted within him, and he had felt almost +inclined to curse his life, or even to end it by crawling up and +committing himself to the deep cold water which, he heard rippling +on the vessel's side; then, even then, in that valley of the shadow +of death, a Voice had come to him--a still small Voice--at whose +holy and healing utterance Eric had bowed his head, and listened to +the messages of God, and learnt his will; and now, in humble +resignation, in touching penitence with solemn self-devotion, he +had cast himself at the feet of Jesus, and prayed to be helped, and +guided, and forgiven. One little star of hope rose in the darkness +of his solitude, and its rays grew brighter and brighter, till they +were glorious now. Yes, for Jesus' sake he was washed, he was +cleansed, he was sanctified, he was justified; he would fear no +evil, for God was with him and underneath were the everlasting +arms.</p> +<p>And while he sat there, undisturbed at last, and unmolested by +harsh word or savage blow, recovering health with every breath of +the sea wind, the skipper came up to him, and muttered something +half-like an apology.</p> +<p>The sight of him, and the sound of his voice, made Eric shudder +again, but he listened meekly, and, with no flash of scorn or +horror, put out his hand to the man to shake. There was something +touching and noble in the gesture, and, thoroughly ashamed of +himself for once, the fellow shook the proffered hand, and slunk +away.</p> +<p>They entered the broad river at Southpool.</p> +<p>"I must leave the ship when we get to port, Roberts," said +Eric.</p> +<p>"I doubt whether you'll let you," answered Roberts, jerking his +finger towards the skipper's cabin.</p> +<p>"Why?"</p> +<p>"He'll be afeard you might take the law on him."</p> +<p>"He needn't fear."</p> +<p>Roberts only shook his head.</p> +<p>"Then I must run away somehow. Will you help me?"</p> +<p>"Yes, that I will."</p> +<p>That very evening Eric escaped from the Stormy Petrel, unknown +to all but Roberts. They were in the dock, and he dropped into the +water in the evening, and swam to the pier, which was only a yard +or two distant; but the effort almost exhausted his strength, for +his knee was still painful, and he was very weak.</p> +<p>Wet and penniless, he knew not where to go, but spent the +sleepless night under an arch. Early the next morning he went to a +pawnbroker's, and raised £2:10s. on his watch, with which +money he walked straight to the railway station.</p> +<p>It was July, and the Roslyn summer holidays had commenced. As +Eric dragged his slow way to the station, he suddenly saw Wildney +on the other side of the street. His first impulse was to spring to +meet him, as he would have done in old times. His whole heart +yearned towards him. It was six weeks now since Eric had seen one +loving face, and during all that time he had hardly heard one +kindly word. And now he saw before him the boy whom he loved so +fondly, with whom he had spent so many happy hours of school-boy +friendship, with whom he had gone through so many schoolboy +adventures, and who, he believed, loved him fondly still.</p> +<p>Forgetful for the moment of his condition, Eric moved across the +street. Wildney was walking with his cousin, a beautiful girl, some +four years older than himself, whom he was evidently patronising +immensely. They were talking very merrily, and Eric overheard the +word Roslyn. Like a lightning-flash the memory of the theft, the +memory of his ruin came upon him; he looked down at his dress--it +was a coarse blue shirt, which Roberts had given him in place of +his old one, and the back of it was stained and saturated with +blood from his unhealed wounds; his trousers were dirty, tarred, +and ragged, and his shoes, full of holes, barely covered his feet. +He remembered too that for weeks he had not been able to wash, and +that very morning, as he saw himself in a looking-glass at a +shop-window, he had been deeply shocked at his own appearance. His +face was white as a sheet, the fair hair matted and tangled, the +eyes sunken and surrounded with a dark color, and dead and +lustreless. No! he could not meet Wildney as a sick and ragged +sailor-boy; perhaps even he might not be recognised if he did. He +drew back, and hid himself till the merry-hearted pair had passed, +and it was almost with a pang of jealousy that he saw how happy +Wildney could be, while <i>he</i> was thus; but he cast aside the +unworthy thought at once. "After all, how is poor Charlie to know +what has happened to me?"</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<br> +<h3>HOME AT LAST</h3> +<blockquote>"I will arise and go to my father."<br> +<br> +"Ach! ein Schicksal droht,<br> +Und es droht nicht lange!<br> +Auf der holden Wange<br> +Brennt ein böses Roth!"--TIEDGE.</blockquote> +<br> +<p>Eric Williams pursued his disconsolate way to the station, and +found that his money only just sufficed to get him something to eat +during the day, and carry him third class by the parliamentary +train to Charlesbury, the little station where he had to take the +branch line to Ayrton.</p> +<p>He got into the carriage, and sat in the far corner, hiding +himself from notice as well as he could. The weary train--(it +carried poor people for the most part, so, of course it could +matter but little how tedious or slow it was!)--the weary train, +stopping at every station, and often waiting on the rail until it +had been passed by trains that started four or five hours after +it,--dragged its slow course through the fair counties of England. +Many people got in and out of the carriage, which was generally +full, and some of them tried occasionally to enter into +conversation with him. But poor Eric was too sick and tired, and +his heart was too full to talk much, and he contented himself with +civil answers to the questions put to him, dropping the +conversation as soon as he could.</p> +<p>At six in the evening the train stopped at Charlesbury, and he +got down.</p> +<p>"Ticket," said the station-man.</p> +<p>Eric gave it, turning his head away, for the man knew him well +from having often seen him there. It was no use; the man looked +hard at him, and then, opening his eyes wide, exclaimed,</p> +<p>"Well, I never! what, Master Williams of Fairholm, can that be +you?"</p> +<p>"Hush, John, hush! yes, I am Eric Williams. But don't say a +word, that's a good fellow; I'm going on to Ayrton this +evening."</p> +<p>"Well, sir, I <i>am</i>, hurt like to see you looking so ragged +and poorly. Let me give you a bed to-night, and send you on by +first train to-morrow."</p> +<p>"O no, thank you, John. I've got no money, and--"</p> +<p>"Tut, tut, sir; I thought you'd know me better nor that. Proud +I'd be any day to do anything for Mrs. Trevor's nephew, let alone a +young gentleman like you. Well, then, let me drive you, sir, in my +little cart this evening."</p> +<p>"No, thank you, John, never mind; you are very, very good, but," +he said, and the tears were in his eyes, "I want to walk in alone +to-night."</p> +<p>"Well, God keep and bless you, sir," said the man, "for you look +to need it;" and touching his cap, he watched the boy's painful +walk across some fields to the main road.</p> +<p>"Who'd ha' thought it, Jenny?" he said to his wife. "There's +that young Master Williams, whom we've always thought so noble +like, just been here as ragged as ragged, and with a face the color +o' my white signal flag."</p> +<p>"Lawks!" said the woman; "well, well! poor young gentleman, I'm +afeard he's been doing something bad."</p> +<p>Balmily and beautiful the evening fell, as Eric, not without +toil, made his way along the road towards Ayrton, which was ten +miles off. The road wound through the valley, across the low hills +that encircled it, sometimes spanning or running parallel to the +bright stream that had been the delight of Eric's innocent +childhood. There was something enjoyable at first to the poor boy's +eyes, so long accustomed to the barren sea, in resting once more on +the soft undulating green of the summer fields, which were +intertissued with white and yellow flowers, like a broidery of +pearls and gold. The whole scene was bathed in the exquisite light, +and rich with the delicate perfumes of a glorious evening, which +filled the sky over his head with every perfect gradation of rose +and amber and amethyst, and breathed over the quiet landscape a +sensation of unbroken peace. But peace did not remain long in +Eric's heart; each well-remembered landmark filled his soul with +recollections of the days when he had returned from school, oh! how +differently; and of the last time when he had come home with Vernon +by his side. "Oh Verny, Verny, noble little Verny, would to God +that I were with you now. But you are resting, Verny, in the green +grave by Russell's side, and I--oh God, be merciful to me now!"</p> +<p>It was evening, and the stars came out and shone by hundreds, +and Eric walked on by the moonlight. But the exertion had brought +on the pain in his knee, and he had to sit down a long time by the +road-side to rest. He reached Ayrton at ten o'clock, but even then +he could not summon up courage to pass through the town where he +was so well known, lest any straggler should recognise him,--and he +took a detour in order to get to Fairholm. He did not arrive there +till eleven o'clock; and then he could not venture into the +grounds, for he saw through the trees of the shrubbery that there +was no light in any of the windows, and it was clear that they were +all gone to bed.</p> +<p>What was he to do? He durst not disturb them so late at night. +He remembered that they would not have heard a syllable of or from +him since he had run away from Roslyn, and he feared the effect of +so sudden an emotion as his appearance at that hour might +excite.</p> +<p>So under the star-light he lay down to sleep on a cold bank +beside the gate, determining to enter early in the morning. It was +long before he slept, but at last weary nature demanded her +privilege with importunity, and gentle sleep floated over him like +a dark dewy cloud, and the sun was high in heaven before he +woke.</p> +<p>It was about half-past nine in the morning, and Mrs. Trevor, +with Fanny, was starting to visit some of her poor neighbors, an +occupation full of holy pleasure to her kind heart, and in which +she had found more than usual consolation during the heavy trials +which she had recently suffered; for she had loved Eric and Vernon +as a mother does her own children, and now Vernon, the little +cherished jewel of her heart, was dead--Vernon was dead, and Eric, +she feared, not dead but worse than dead, guilty, stained, +dishonored. Often had she thought to herself, in deep anguish of +heart, "Our darling little Vernon dead--and Eric fallen and +ruined!"</p> +<p>"Look at that poor fellow asleep on the grass," said Fanny, +pointing to a sailor boy, who lay coiled up on the bank beside the +gate. "He has had a rough bed, mother, if he has spent the night +there, as I fear."</p> +<p>Mrs. Trevor had grasped her arm. "What is Flo' doing?" she said, +stopping, as the pretty little spaniel trotted up to the boy's +reclining figure, and began snuffing about it, and then broke into +a quick short bark of pleasure, and fawned and frisked about him, +and leapt upon him, joyously wagging his tail.</p> +<p>The boy rose with the dew wet from the flowers upon his hair; he +saw the dog, and at once began playfully to fondle it, and hold its +little silken head between his hands; but as yet he had not caught +sight of the Trevors.</p> +<p>"It is--oh, good heavens! it is Eric," cried Mrs. Trevor, as she +flew towards him. Another moment and he was in her arms, silent, +speechless, with long arrears of pent-up emotion.</p> +<p>"O my Eric, our poor, lost, wandering Eric--come home; you are +forgiven, more than forgiven, my own darling boy. Yes, I knew that +my prayers would be answered; this is as though we received you +from the dead." And the noble lady wept upon his neck, and Eric, +his heart shaken with accumulated feelings, clung to her and +wept.</p> +<p>Deeply did that loving household rejoice to receive back their +lost child. At once they procured him a proper dress, and a warm +bath, and tended him with every gentle office of female ministering +hands. And in the evening, when he told them his story in a broken +voice of penitence and remorse, their love came to him like a sweet +balsam, and he rested by them, "seated, and clothed, and in his +right mind."</p> +<p>The pretty little room, fragrant with sweet flowers from the +greenhouse, was decorated with all the refinement of womanly taste, +and its glass doors opened on the pleasant garden. It was long, +long since Eric had ever seen anything like it, and he had never +hoped to see it again. "Oh dearest aunty," he murmured, as he +rested his weary head upon her lap, while he sat on a low stool at +her feet, "Oh aunty, you will never know how different this is from +the foul, horrible hold of the 'Stormy Petrel,' and its detestable +inmates."</p> +<p>When Eric was dressed once more as a gentleman, and once more +fed on nourishing and wholesome food, and was able to move once +more about the garden by Fanny's side, he began to recover his old +appearance, and the soft bloom came back to his cheek again, and +the light to his blue eye. But still his health gave most serious +cause for apprehension; weeks of semi-starvation, bad air, +sickness, and neglect, followed by two nights of exposure and wet, +had at last undermined the remarkable strength of his constitution, +and the Trevors soon became aware of the painful fact that he was +sinking to the grave, and had come home only to die.</p> +<p>Above all, there seemed to be some great load at his heart which +he could not remove; a sense of shame, the memory of his disgrace +at Roslyn, and of the dark suspicion that rested on his name. He +avoided the subject, and they were too kind to force it on him, +especially as he had taken away the bitterest part of their trial +in remembering it, by explaining to them that he was far from being +so wicked in the matter of the theft as they had at first been (how +slowly and reluctantly!) almost forced to believe.</p> +<p>"Have you ever heard--oh, how shall I put it?--have you ever +heard, aunty, how things went on at Roslyn after I ran away?" he +asked, one evening, with evident effort.</p> +<p>"No, love, I have not. After they had sent home your things, I +heard no more; only two most kind and excellent letters--one from +Dr. Rowlands, and one from your friend, Mr. Rose--informed me of +what had happened about you."</p> +<p>"O, have they sent home my things?" he asked, eagerly. "There +are very few among them that I care about, but there is just +one----"</p> +<p>"I guessed it, my Eric, and, but that I feared to agitate you, +should have given it you before;" and she drew out of a drawer the +little likeness of Vernon's sweet childish face.</p> +<p>Eric gazed at it till the sobs shook him, and tears blinded his +eyes.</p> +<p>"Do not weep, my boy," said Mrs. Trevor, kissing his forehead. +"Dear little Verny, remember, is in a land where God himself wipes +away all tears from off all eyes."</p> +<p>"Is there anything else you would like?" asked Fanny, to divert +his painful thoughts. "I will get you anything in a moment."</p> +<p>"Yes, Fanny, dear, there is the medal I got for saving Russell's +life, and one or two things which he gave me;--ah, poor Edwin, you +never knew him!"</p> +<p>He told her what to fetch, and when she brought them it seemed +to give him great pleasure to recall his friends to mind by name, +and speak of them--especially of Montagu and Wildney.</p> +<p>"I have a plan to please you, Eric," said Mrs. Tremor. "Shall I +ask Montagu and Wildney here? we have plenty of room for them."</p> +<p>"O, thank you," he said, with the utmost eagerness. "Thank you, +dearest aunt." Then suddenly his countenance fell. "Stop--shall +we?--yes, yes, I am going to die soon, I know; let me see them +before I die."</p> +<p>The Trevors did not know that he was aware of the precarious +tenure of his life, but they listened to him in silence, and did +not contradict him; and Mrs. Trevor wrote to both the boys (whose +directions Eric knew), telling them what had happened, and begging +them, simply for his sake, to come and stay with her for a time. +She hinted clearly that it might be the last opportunity they would +ever have of seeing him.</p> +<p>Wildney and Montagu accepted the invitation; and they arrived +together at Fairholm on one of the early autumn evenings. They both +greeted Eric with the utmost affection; and he seemed never tired +of pressing their hands, and looking at them again. Yet every now +and then a memory of sadness would pass over his face, like a dark +ripple on the clear surface of a lake.</p> +<p>"Tell me, Monty," he said one evening, "all about what happened +after I left Roslyn."</p> +<p>"Gladly, Eric; now that your name is cleared, there is--"</p> +<p>"My name cleared!" said Eric, leaning forward eagerly. "Did you +say that?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Eric. Didn't you know, then, that the thief had been +discovered?"</p> +<p>"No," he murmured faintly, leaning back; "O thank God, thank +God! Do tell me all about it, Monty."</p> +<p>"Well, Eric, I will tell you all from the beginning. You may +guess how utterly astonished we were in the morning, when we heard +that you had run away. Wildney here was the first to discover it, +for he went early to your bed-room----"</p> +<p>"Dear little Sunbeam," interrupted Eric, resting his hand +against Wildney's cheek; but Wildney shook his fist at him when he +heard the forbidden name.</p> +<p>"He found the door locked," continued Montagu, "and called to +you, but there came no answer; this made us suspect the truth, and +we were certain, of it when some one caught sight of the pendent +sheet. The masters soon heard the report, and sent Carter to make +inquiries, but they did not succeed in discovering anything +definite about you. Then, of course, everybody assumed as a +certainty that you were guilty, and I fear that my bare assertion +on the other side had little weight."</p> +<p>Eric's eyes glistened as he drank in his friend's story.</p> +<p>"But, about a fortnight after, <i>more</i> money and several +other articles disappeared from the studies, and all suspicion as +to the perpetrator was baffled; only now the boys began to admit +that, after all, they had been premature in condemning you. It was +a miserable time; for every one was full of distrust, and the more +nervous boys were always afraid lest any one should on some slight +grounds suspect <i>them. Still</i>, things kept disappearing.</p> +<p>"We found out at length that the time when the robberies were +effected must be between twelve and one, and it was secretly agreed +that some one should be concealed in the studies for a day or two +during those hours. Carter undertook the office, and was ensconced +in one of the big cupboards in a study which had not yet been +touched. On the third day he heard some one stealthily mount the +stairs. The fellows were more careful now, and used to keep their +doors shut, but the person was provided with keys, and opened the +study in which Carter was. He moved about for a little time--Carter +watching him through the key-hole, and prepared to spring on him +before he could make his escape. Not getting much, the man at last +opened the cup-board door, where Carter had just time to conceal +himself behind a great-coat. The great-coat took the plunderer's +fancy; he took it down off the peg, and there stood Carter before +him! Billy--for it was he--stood absolutely confounded, as though a +ghost had suddenly appeared; and Carter, after enjoying his +unconcealed terror, collared him, and hauled him off to the police +station. He was tried soon after, and finally confessed that it was +he who had taken the cricket-money too; for which offences he was +sentenced to transportation. So Eric, dear Eric, at last your name +was cleared."</p> +<p>"As I always knew it would be, dear old boy," said Wildney.</p> +<p>Montagu and Wildney found plenty to make them happy at Fairholm, +and were never tired of Eric's society, and of his stories about +all that befell him on board the "Stormy Petrel." They perceived a +marvellous change in him. Every trace of recklessness and arrogance +had passed away; every stain of passion had been removed; every +particle of hardness had been calcined in the flame of trial. All +was gentleness, love, and dependence, in the once bright, +impetuous, self-willed boy; it seemed as though the lightning of +God's anger had shattered and swept away all that was evil in his +heart and life, and left all his true excellence, all the royal +prerogatives of his character, pure and unscathed Eric, even in his +worst days, was, as I well remember, a lovable and noble boy; but +at this period there must have been something about him for which +to thank God, something unspeakably winning, and irresistibly +attractive. During the day, as Eric was too weak to walk with them, +Montagu and Wildney used to take boating and fishing excursions by +themselves, but in the evening the whole party would sit out +reading and talking in the garden till twilight fell. The two +visitors began to hope that Mrs. Trevor had been mistaken, and that +Eric's health would still recover; but Mrs. Trevor would not +deceive herself with a vain hope, and the boy himself shook his +head when they called him convalescent.</p> +<p>Their hopes were never higher than one evening about a week +after their arrival, when they were all seated, as usual, in the +open air, under a lime-tree on the lawn. The sun was beginning to +set, and the rain of golden sunlight fell over them through the +green ambrosial foliage of the tree whose pale blossoms were still +murmurous with bees. Eric was leaning back in an easy chair, with +Wildney sitting on the grass, cross-legged at his feet, while +Montagu, resting on one of the mossy roots, read to them the +"Midsummer Night's Dream," and the ladies were busy with their +work.</p> +<p>"There--stop now," said Eric, "and let's sit out and talk until +we see some of 'the fiery a'es and o'es of light' which he talks +of."</p> +<p>"I'd no idea Shakspeare was such immensely jolly reading," +remarked Wildney naïvely. "I shall take to reading him through +when I get home."</p> +<p>"Do you remember, Eric," said Montagu, "how Rose used to chaff +us in old days for our ignorance of literature, and how indignant +we used to be when he asked if we'd ever heard of an obscure person +called William Shakspeare?"</p> +<p>"Yes, very well," answered Eric, laughing heartily. And in this +strain they continued to chat merrily, while the ladies enjoyed +listening to their school-boy mirth.</p> +<p>"What a perfectly delicious evening. It's almost enough to make +me wish to live," said Eric.</p> +<p>He did not often speak thus; and it made them sad. But Eric half +sang, half murmured to himself, a hymn with which his mother's +sweet voice had made him familiar in their cottage-home at +Ellan:--</p> +<blockquote>"There is a calm for those who weep,<br> + A rest for weary pilgrims found;<br> +They softly lie, and sweetly sleep,<br> + Low in the ground.<br> +<br> +"The storm that wrecks the winter sky,<br> + No more disturbs their deep repose,<br> +Than summer evening's latest sigh<br> + That shuts the rose."</blockquote> +<p>The two last lines lingered pleasantly in his fancy and he +murmured to himself again, in low tones--</p> +<blockquote>"Than summer evening's latest sigh<br> + That shuts the rose."</blockquote> +<p>"Oh hush, hush, Eric!" said Wildney, laying his hand upon his +friend's lips; "don't let's spoil to-night by forebodings."</p> +<p>It seemed, indeed, a shame to do so, for it was almost an awful +thing to be breathing the splendor of the transparent air, as the +sun broadened and fell, and a faint violet glow floated over soft +meadow and silver stream. One might have fancied that the last rays +of sunshine loved to linger over Eric's face, now flushed with a +hectic tinge of pleasure, and to light up sudden glories in his +bright hair, which the wind just fanned off his forehead as he +leaned back and inhaled the luxury of evening perfume, which the +flowers of the garden poured on the gentle breeze. Ah, how sad that +such scenes should be so rare and so short-lived!</p> +<p>"Hark--tirra-la-lirra-lirra!" said Wildney; "there goes the +postman's horn! Shall I run and get the letter-bag as he passes the +gate?"</p> +<p>"Yes, do," they all cried; and the boy bounded off full of fun, +greeting the postman with such a burst of merry apostrophe, that +the man shook with laughing at him.</p> +<p>"Here it is at last," said Wildney. "Now, then, for the key. +Here's a letter for me, hurrah!--two for you, Miss +Trevor--<i>what</i> people you young ladies are for writing to each +other! None for you, Monty--Oh, yes! I'm wrong, here's one; but +none for Eric."</p> +<p>"I expected none," said Eric sighing; but his eye was fixed +earnestly on one of Mrs. Trevor's letters. He saw that it was from +India, and directed in his father's hand.</p> +<p>Mrs. Trevor caught his look. "Shall I read it aloud to you, dear +I Do you think you can stand it? Remember it will be in answer to +ours, telling them of--"</p> +<p>"Oh, yes, yes," he said, eagerly, "do let me hear it."</p> +<p>With instinctive delicacy Montagu and Wildney rose, but Eric +pressed them to stay. "It will help me to bear what mother says, if +I see you by me," he pleaded.</p> +<p>God forbid that I should transcribe that letter. It was written +from the depths of such sorrow as He only can fully sympathise +with, who for thirty years pitched his tent in the valley of human +misery. By the former mail Mrs. Williams had heard of Verny's +melancholy death; by the next she had been told that her only other +child, Eric, was not dead indeed, but a wandering outcast, marked +with the brand of terrible suspicion. Let her agony be sacred; it +was God who sent it, and he only enabled her to endure it. With +bent head, and streaming eyes, and a breast that heaved +involuntarily with fitful sobs, Eric listened as though to his +mother's voice, and only now and then he murmured low to himself, +"O mother, mother, mother--but I am forgiven now. O mother, God and +man have forgiven me, and we shall be at peace again once +more."</p> +<p>Mrs. Trevor's eyes grew too dim with weeping, to read it all, +and Fanny finished it. "Here is a little note from your father, +Eric, which dropped out when we opened dear aunt's letter. Shall I +read it, too?"</p> +<p>"Perhaps not now, love," said Mrs. Trevor. "Poor Eric is too +tired and excited already."</p> +<p>"Well, then, let me glance it myself, aunty," he said. He opened +it, read a line or two, and then, with a scream, fell back +swooning, while it dropped out of his hands.</p> +<p>Terrified, they picked up the fallen paper; it told briefly, in +a few heartrending words, that, after writing the letter, Mrs. +Williams had been taken ill; that her life was absolutely despaired +of, and that, before the letter reached England, she would, in all +human probability, be dead. It conveyed the impression of a soul +resigned indeed, and humble, but crushed down to the very earth +with the load of mysterious bereavement, and irretrievable +sorrow.</p> +<p>"Oh, I have killed her, I have killed my mother!" said Eric, in +a hollow voice, when he came to himself. "O God, forgive me, +forgive me!"</p> +<p>They gathered round him; they soothed, and comforted, and prayed +for him; but his soul refused comfort, and all his strength +appeared to have been broken down at once like a feeble reed. At +last a momentary energy returned; his eyes were lifted to the +gloaming heaven where a few stars had already begun to shine, and a +bright look illuminated his countenance. They listened +deeply--"Yes, mother," he murmured, in broken tones, "forgiven now, +for Christ's dear sake. O thou merciful God! Yes, there they are, +and we shall meet again. Verny--oh, happy, happy at last--too +happy!"</p> +<p>The sounds died away, and his head fell back; for a transient +moment more the smile and the brightness played over his fair +features like a lambent flame. It passed away, and Eric was with +those he dearliest loved, in the land where there is no more +curse.</p> +<p>"Yes, dearest Eric, forgiven and happy now," sobbed Mrs. Trevor; +and her tears fell fast upon the dead boy's face, as she pressed +upon it a long, last kiss.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="2CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<br> +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> +<blockquote>"And hath that early hope been blessed with truth?<br> +Hath he fulfilled the promise of his youth?<br> +And borne unscathed through danger's stormy field<br> +Honor's white wreath and virtue's stainless shield?"<br> +<br> +HARROW. A Prize Poem.</blockquote> +<p>The other day I was staying with Montagu. He has succeeded to +his father's estate, and is the best-loved landlord for miles +around. He intends to stand for the county at the next general +election, and I haven't the shadow of a doubt that he will succeed. +If he does, Parliament will have gained a worthy addition. Montagu +has the very soul of honor, and he can set off the conclusions of +his vigorous judgment, and the treasures of his cultivated taste, +with an eloquence that rises to extraordinary grandeur when he is +fulminating his scorn at any species of tyranny or meanness.</p> +<p>It was very pleasant to talk with him about our old school days +in his charming home. We sate by the open window (which looks over +his grounds, and then across one of the richest plains in England) +one long summer evening, recalling all the vanished scenes and +figures of the past, until we almost felt ourselves boys again.</p> +<p>"I have just been staying at Trinity," said I, "and Owen, as I +suppose you know, is doing brilliantly. He has taken a high first +class, and they have already elected him fellow and assistant +tutor."</p> +<p>"Is he liked?"</p> +<p>"Yes, very much. He always used to strike me at school as one of +those fellows who are much more likely to be happy and successful +as men, than they had ever any chance of being as boys. I hope the +<i>greatest</i> things of him; but have you heard anything of +Duncan lately?"</p> +<p>"Yes, he's just been gazetted as lieutenant. I had a letter from +him the other day. He's met two old Roslyn fellows, Wildney and +Upton, the latter of whom is now Captain Upton; he says that there +are not two finer or manlier officers in the whole service, and +Wildney, as you may easily guess, is the favorite of the mess-room. +You know, I suppose, that Graham is making a great start at the +bar."</p> +<p>"Is he? I'm delighted to hear it."</p> +<p>"Yes. He had a 'mauvais sujet' to defend the other day, in the +person of our old enemy, Brigson, who, having been at last disowned +by his relations, is at present a policeman in London."</p> +<p>"On the principle, I suppose, of 'Set a thief to catch a +thief,'" said Montagu, with a smile.</p> +<p>"Yes; but he exemplifies the truth 'chassez le naturel, il +revient au galop' for he was charged with abetting a street fight +between two boys, which very nearly ended fatally. However, he was +penitent, and Graham got him off with wonderful cleverness."</p> +<p>"Ah!" said Montagu, sighing, "there was <i>one</i> who would +have been the pride of Roslyn had he lived Poor, poor Eric!"</p> +<p>We talked long of our loved friend; his bright face, his winning +words, his merry smile, came back to us with the memory of his +melancholy fate, and a deep sadness fell over us.</p> +<p>"Poor boy, he is at peace now," said Montagu; and he told me +once more the sorrowful particulars of his death. "Shall I read you +some verses?" he asked, "which he must have composed, poor fellow, +on board the 'Stormy Petrel,' though he probably wrote them at +Fairholm afterwards."</p> +<p>"Yes, do."</p> +<p>And Montagu, in his pleasant musical voice, read me, with much +feeling, these lines, written in Eric's boyish hand, and signed +with his name.</p> +<p>ALONE, YET NOT ALONE.</p> +<blockquote>Alone, alone! ah, weary soul,<br> + In all the world alone I stand,<br> +With none to wed their hearts to mine,<br> + Or link in mine a loving hand.<br> +<br> +Ah! I tell me not that I have those<br> + Who owe the ties of blood and name,<br> +Or pitying friends who love me well,<br> + And dear returns of friendship claim.<br> +<br> +I have, I have! but none can heal,<br> + And none shall see my inward woe,<br> +And the deep thoughts within me veiled<br> + No other heart but mine shall know.<br> +<br> +And yet amid my sins and shames<br> + The shield of God is o'er me thrown<br> +And, 'neath its awful shade I feel<br> + Alone,--yet, ah, not all alone!<br> +<br> +Not all alone! and though my life<br> + Be dragged along the stained earth,<br> +O God! I feel thee near me still,<br> + And thank thee for my birth!<br> +<br> +E.W.</blockquote> +<p>Montagu gave me the paper, and I cherish it as my dearest +memorial of my erring but noble schoolboy friend.</p> +<p>Knowing how strong an interest Mr. Rose always took in Eric, I +gave him a copy of these verses when last I visited him at his +pleasant vicarage of Seaford, to which he was presented a year or +two ago by Dr. Rowlands, now Bishop of Roslyn, who has also +appointed him examining chaplain. I sat and watched Mr. Rose while +he read them. A mournful interest was depicted on his face, his +hand trembled a little, and I fancied that he bent his grey hair +over the paper to hide a tear. We always knew at school that Eric +was one of his greatest favorites, as indeed he and Vernon were +with all of us; and when the unhappy boy had run away without even +having the opportunity for bidding any one farewell, Mr. Rose +displayed such real grief, that for weeks he was like a man who +went mourning for a son. After those summer holidays, when we +returned to school, Montagu and Wildney brought back with them the +intelligence of Eric's return to Fairholm, and of his death. The +news plunged many of us in sorrow, and when, on the first Sunday in +chapel, Mr. Rose alluded to this sad tale, there were few dry eyes +among those who listened to him. I shall never forget that Sunday +afternoon. A deep hush brooded over us, and before the sermon was +over, many a face was hidden to conceal the emotion which could not +be suppressed.</p> +<p>"I speak," said Mr. Rose, "to a congregation of mourners, for +one who but a few weeks back was sitting among you as one of +yourselves. But, for myself, I do <i>not</i> mourn over his death. +Many a time have I mourned for him in past days, when I marked how +widely he went astray,--but I do not mourn now; for after his fiery +trials he died penitent and happy, and at last his sorrows are over +for ever, and the dreams of ambition have vanished, and the fires +of passion have been quenched, and for all eternity the young soul +is in the presence of its God. Let none of you think that his life +has been wasted. Possibly, had it pleased heaven to spare him, he +might have found great works to do among his fellow-men, and he +would have done them as few else could. But do not let us fancy +that our work must cease of necessity with our lives. Not so; far +rather must we believe that it will continue for ever; seeing that +we are all partakers of God's unspeakable blessing, the common +mystery of immortality. Perhaps it may be the glorious destiny of +very many here to recognise that truth, more fully when we meet and +converse with our dear departed brother in a holier and happier +world."</p> +<p>I have preserved some faint echo of the words he used, but I can +give no conception of the dignity and earnestness of his manner, or +the intense pathos of his tones.</p> +<p>The scene passed before me again as I looked at him, while he +lingered over Eric's verses, and seemed lost in a reverie of +thought.</p> +<p>At last he looked up and sighed. "Poor Eric!--But no, I will not +call him poor; after all he is happier now than we. You loved him +well," he continued; "why do you not try and preserve some records +of his life?"</p> +<p>The suggestion took me by surprise, but I thought over it, and +at once began to accomplish it. My own reminiscences of Eric were +numerous and vivid, and several of my old schoolfellows and friends +gladly supplied me with other particulars, especially the Bishop of +Roslyn, Mr. Rose, Montagu, and Wildney. So the story of Eric's ruin +has been told, and told as he would have wished it done, with +simple truth. Noble Eric! I do not fear that I have wronged your +memory, and you I know would rejoice to think how sorrowful hours +have lost something of their sorrow, as I wrote the scenes in so +many of which we were engaged together in our school-boy days.</p> +<p>I visited Roslyn a short time ago, and walked for hours along +the sands, picturing in my memory the pleasant faces, and recalling +the joyous tones of the many whom I had known and loved. Other boys +were playing by the sea-side, who were strangers to me and I to +them; and as I marked how wave after wave rolled up the shore, with +its murmur and its foam, each sweeping farther than the other, each +effacing the traces of the last, I saw an emblem of the passing +generations, and was content to find that my place knew me no +more.</p> +<blockquote>Ah me the golden time!--<br> + But its hours have passed away,<br> +With the pure and bracing clime,<br> + And the bright and merry day.<br> +<br> +And the sea still laughs to the rosy shells ashore,<br> + And the shore still shines in the lustre of the +wave;<br> +But the joyaunce and the beauty of the boyish days is o'er,<br> + And many of the beautiful lie quiet in the grave;--<br> + And he who comes again<br> + Wears a brow of toil and pain,<br> +And wanders sad and silent by the melancholy main.</blockquote> + + + + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ERIC ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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