[Illustration: HE PICKED UP HORACE AND CARRIED HIM DOWN. [_Page 106. _]

 THAT

 SCHOLARSHIP BOY

 By

 EMMA LESLIE

 _Author of 'Arthur Ranyard's Training, ' 'Dearer than Life, ' etc. _

 THIRD IMPRESSION

 LONDON

 THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY

 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E. C. 

 * * * * *

CONTENTS. 

 PAGE

CHAPTER I

BROTHER AND SISTER 5

CHAPTER II

SENDING HIM TO COVENTRY 8

CHAPTER III

THE COCK OF THE WALK 32

CHAPTER IV

DR. MORRISON 46

CHAPTER V

THE CHAMPION 59

CHAPTER VI

FOR THE HONOUR OF THE SCHOOL 74

CHAPTER VII

NEWS FOR MRS. MORRISON 89

CHAPTER VIII

RIGHTEOUS RETRIBUTION 109

 * * * * *

CHAPTER I. 

BROTHER AND SISTER. 

'I say, we've got a new boy at Torrington's. Haven't had one for agesand ages, so it's made quite a stir among us. '

'You can make stir enough when you are coming out of school, ' said hissister, lifting her eyes from her lessons and looking across thetable. 

'Who is the new boy?' she asked. 

'Nobody knows--that's the fun, ' said Leonard, with a short whistle. 

'Don't you even know his name?'

'That's just like a girl, Duffy; you're worse than usual, ' said herbrother, setting his elbows on the table, and nibbling the end of thepen-holder in a meditative fashion. 'Of course he was properlyintroduced to the class as Mr. Horace Howard. '

'Howard is a nice name, ' commented Duffy, whose real name wasFlorence. 'It was Aunt Lucy's name before she was married, you know. '

No, I don't know. I may have heard it, but the name's nothing. Idon't suppose his father was hanged!' said her brother. 

'Perhaps he is some distant relative of the Duke of Norfolk? thoughauntie says she has nothing to do with those Howards. '

A mocking laugh greeted this suggestion. 'Go on, Duffy, let us havesome more of your wisdom. '

'I don't see what there is to laugh at, Len, and I am sure I don'twant to hear about the new boy, ' said his sister indignantly, and sheturned to her lessons once more. 

This brought a fusillade of paper pellets from the student sittingopposite. She bore it patiently for a minute or two, and then angrilydemanded why he did not get on with his lessons and let her do thesame, and threatened to ring the bell. 

'Don't be a bigger duffer than you are, Flo. You can't help being agirl, I know; but I'm willing to help you all I can out of a girl'sfoolishness. Only a girl would talk of ringing the bell, and making arow, because she can't have all her own way. Come now, I want to talkto you about the new boy, and we can finish the lesson afterwards. '

'But you say you don't know anything about him, and so there's nothingto talk about, ' said his sister. 

'Yes, that's just it. Why shouldn't the fellow tell us who his peopleare, where he comes from, and what he's going to do with himselfby-and-by?'

It was his sister's turn to laugh now. 'What queer notions boys have!'she exclaimed. 'I suppose you expect a new scholar to come and say, "My father is a doctor, or a lawyer, and we have three servants at ourhouse, " as soon as the master has introduced him to the class. '

A ball of paper was levelled at Duffy's head for this remark. 'Whosaid he was to do it the first day or the second day? But when afellow has been there nearly a fortnight you expect to hear somethingabout who he is. '

'But suppose he don't choose to tell you, what then?'

'Yes, that's it. How are we going to make him? What would you do, Duffy? That's what I want to know. '

'Oh, I'm only a girl, ' said Duffy with a laugh. 'I can't be expectedto understand boys' affairs like that. '

'Yes, you do--that's just what girls do understand. We can't have agood stand up fight, which is the way we generally settle things. '

'Why not? If the new boy won't do as the rest tell him, then fight itout, if he won't give in!'

Leonard heaved a sigh of despair. 'There never was anything half sostupid as a girl!' he exclaimed. 'Do you think if it was anything wecould settle off-hand like that I should ask you about it?'

'Well, tell me what it is, and I'll help you if I can. What is the newboy like?' she asked. 

'Oh, like most other fellows, I suppose, or at least he was the firstday, I know, for I took particular notice as he came into the class;but the last day or two he has come in a jacket that ought to havegone to the rag-bag three months ago, and----'

'But his jacket can't hurt you, ' interrupted his sister, 'you don'thave to wear it. '

'You stupid duffer! don't he go to Torrington's, I tell you, andhaven't we got to stand up for the honour of the school?'

'Who--the boys or the head master?' asked Duffy innocently. 

'Why, all of us, to be sure, and we mean to do it too. Why, Torrington's is as good as Eton. '

'Oh yes, of course it's a good school, ' admitted Duffy. 

'Yes, and we mean to keep it so; we don't mean to have any cads amongus. '

'Is the new boy a cad, then?' asked his sister. 

'He can't be anything else, if the story Bob Taylor has heard is true. He brought it to school yesterday, and says he knows it is a factThat the new fellow is a scholarship boy from one of those low boardschools in Middleton, and that he walks back to the town every day. '

'What is a scholarship boy?' asked Duffy. 

'Why, a poor beggar who can't afford to pay his own schooling, and sothe County Council pay it for him. '

'What a shame!' exclaimed the young lady indignantly. 'Mamma wassaying only yesterday how much our schooling cost. Why don't theCounty Council pay for us, especially as father has something to dowith it?'

Leonard shook his head. He either did not know or did not choose totell his sister the conditions upon which County Scholarships weregranted. He merely remarked, 'You're a dreadful duffer about somethings, Flo. But you could tell us what girls would do if their schoolwas going to be dragged down. '

But Florence shook her head. 'I don't know what we should do, ' shesaid, 'because I am not one of the elder girls, and we juniors don'tcount for much; but if the girl weren't nice I should not speak to heror help her with her lessons or anything. '

'Oh, the beggar don't want any help with _his_ lessons. He has climbedto the top of the class, and hooked Taylor out of his place already. And old Mason actually had the cheek to tell us to-day that we shouldhave to pay a good deal more attention to our home work, or elseHoward would carry off all the prizes by-and-by. I should like to seehim do it, ' he added. 

'No, you wouldn't; and so you had better get on with your lessonsnow, ' said the young lady practically. 

'No, no! let's settle this first. You haven't told me what a girl'sway would be with a fellow like this Howard. '

'Why, if he isn't nice, don't speak to him. Of course you can't helpit if he does his lessons better than you do, or you must work at thema little more carefully, I suppose, if you mean to get ahead of him inthe class and take some of the prizes!'

'Oh, prizes be bothered!' exclaimed Leonard crossly, for his sister'sadvice had not pleased him at all. 'I tell you we want to get rid ofthe fellow if we can. Taylor says the head master ought to haverefused to take a scholarship boy. '

'Perhaps father could interfere, ' said Florence. 'He has a good dealto do with the Council. '

'If you breathe a word of what I've said to father, I'll never speakto you again!' said her brother vehemently. 'The idea of such a thing!Tell father, indeed! What would the other fellows say, do you think?No, no, we can fight our own battle, and defend the honour of theschool in our own way. A nice hash you would make of everything. Youare a worse duffer than I thought, though I don't think you are atell-tale. '

'Of course I shall not tell father what we have been talking about, ifthat is what you mean, ' said Duffy, a little indignantly. The tearswere shining in her eyes, for she was very fond of her brother, andalways ready to help him whenever she was allowed, and so she feltthis scornful rebuff the more keenly. 

'There, you needn't cry over it. I suppose you can't help being only agirl. But mind, if you say a word to father or mother of what I havetold you, I never will speak to you again!' And with this last threatLeonard turned with a sigh to his lessons. 

'I've wasted a lot of time over you this evening, ' he said, after ashort silence, during which Duffy had been muttering over a Frenchverb. 'I'm awfully disappointed about it, ' he went on, 'for I shallhave to tell Taylor and the rest that you're nothing but a duffer. '

'Because I can't tell you how to manage with a boy that I don't know;it isn't fair, Len, and you say boys always are fair, ' said hissister, in a tone of protest, as she turned to her lessons once more. 

Leonard tried to follow her example, but he could not fix hisattention upon problems in Euclid with that greater problemunsolved--how the honour of the school was to be saved, and the newboy got rid of? That was really what Taylor and one or two leadingspirits had decided must be done; but how to do it was the puzzle!

Leonard's lessons were very imperfectly prepared that night, and everymoment he could snatch the next morning was given to looking over hisbooks, that he might not utterly fail when he was called upon toproduce what he should have learned; and he was conning over one taskas he walked to school, when he was overtaken by Taylor and the rest. 

'Oh, I say, Dabbs'--Len's nickname among his friends--'we saw that newfellow with another carrying a basket of tools--looked like acarpenter's basket, ' said one. 

'It was his brother, too, I know--looked as though he was goingwood-chopping somewhere, ' said another. But Taylor slipped his arm inLen's and drew him aside. 'Look here, what are we going to do aboutit--what did your clever sister say?'

'She couldn't think of anything last night, she was too busy. '

'Oh, that's all rot you know. You said she would be sure to think ofsomething clever, and it's come to this--that we must do something atonce, or Torrington's will go to the dogs, with working fellows cominghere and lording it over gentlemen. The question is how are we to getrid of him?'

'Yes, that's it. How are we? It is easy to say, get rid of him, butthe question is--how? The only thing that we can do at present that Ican see is to send him to Coventry!'

To send a boy to Coventry required united action on the part of thewhole school, but Leonard Morrison and Taylor, with one or two oftheir friends, did not despair of persuading their class-mates tofollow their example. Of course the boys in the lower classes mightspeak an occasional word, and the seniors in the upper form might haveoccasion to do the same, but the classes in this school were large andpractically self-contained, so that they had little to do with thosein the upper or junior classes; it was therefore comparatively easyfor the leading spirits to persuade or compel the rest to follow theirlead, whatever it might be. 

So the day following the talk between the brother and sister, HoraceHoward found himself sent to Coventry, as his foes had decreed. As hewas a quiet, studious lad, he did not notice this at first, but bydegrees it impressed itself upon him that no one had asked him aquestion all day, or even told him that he must not do this or that. He felt vaguely uncomfortable before he set off on his long walk home;and when he found that several of his schoolfellows, who hadpreviously talked to him as they walked part of the way together, ranoff as soon as the gate was passed, his heart sank within him, and hewondered what he could have done to bring this punishment uponhimself. 

But, whatever he might feel, he determined not to let his mother knowanything about it, and so he went into the little room where she satat work, whistling cheerily as usual. 

'Stitch, stitch, stitch, ' he said, as his mother looked up from herwork for the accustomed kiss. 

'You're earlier to-night, dear, ' said Mrs. Howard, as she laid asideher work and drew the tea-tray close to her. 

'I suppose I walked a bit faster, and didn't gossip quite so much, 'said the lad, and he had to strangle a sigh as he spoke, lest hismother should detect it. 

'Are you hungry, my boy?' said his mother as he hung up his cap. 

'Not very, ' answered Horace, for he knew by this time that it wasinconvenient for him to have a large appetite, and so he was learningto regulate it by the state of their finances. 

'You went in your old jacket again to-day, Horace, ' she remarked asshe set his dinner before him, for he took his mid-day meal with himto school. 

'Yes, I wore my old jacket. Why not?' said Horace. 'You mended it upso nicely that it was a pity not to give it another turn and save theother. Jackets can't be picked up in the street, you know; and thoughwe may sometimes pick wool off the hedges, it isn't woven and made upinto boys' jackets. '

Horace talked on in this strain, to prevent his mother from askingquestions as to how he had got on at school during the day, for Mrs. Howard knew something of the ways of boys, and was terribly afraidlest some of her son's schoolfellows should find out something oftheir circumstances, and not treat Horace as they would an equal. 

Nothing but the lad's love of science and her desire to give him aneducation that would fit him to make use of this talent, had made herwilling to consent that he should compete for a scholarship that wouldenable him to do this. It was the first time, she knew, that a boyfrom the board school had ever been admitted to this exclusive grammarschool known as 'Torrington's'; and she had watched anxiously eachday, to find out whether the lads were treating their poorer companionkindly and courteously, and thus far she had been perfectlysatisfied. 

Her elder son was as anxious as she was that Horace should have allthe advantages a good education could give, but he was opposed to hisbrother going to Torrington's. 

'I am only a carpenter, ' he said, 'and never want to be anythingbetter, but it won't suit those boys to hear that one of theirschoolfellows has a brother who is a common working man. '

'You are not a common working man, Fred, ' said his mother quickly. 

'Not to you, perhaps, mother mine, but I want you to look at things asthe world does. I do common work--carpenter's work, and am glad to getthe chance of doing it, and to help you and Horace. Here we can onlybe common working people--you sewing for the shops and I working for abuilder. That is all the people know, and all we want them to know, and I wish Horace could have been a carpenter too. '

'Perhaps it would have been as well, ' said his mother with a sigh. 

'I am sure it would. We agreed to come here and leave the wholemiserable past behind. '

'It is left behind, ' interrupted his mother quickly. 

'Ah, yes, we have done our best; but who knows what questions may beasked, now Horace has gone to that school? Boys are often curious intheir inquiries, and it is not as though----'

'Fred, Fred, we must leave these things in the hand of God, and becontent to take one step at a time. I could not, in fairness toHorace, let him throw away this opportunity of getting a goodeducation that will fit him to use the gifts which I believe God hasgiven him. '

This conversation had taken place at dinner-time that very day, andMrs. Howard was thinking of it as she watched Horace eat his dinner. 

The boy knew that his mother's eyes were upon him, and he was the moreanxious to guard his secret, and so he rattled on until his motherforgot her fears, and thought Fred was making himself anxious withoutthe slightest shadow of cause. 

CHAPTER II. 

SENDING HIM TO COVENTRY. 

Horace Howard sat longer over his lessons that night, and was quiteundisturbed by any talking with his mother and brother, and when thetime came for him to put the lessons aside and go to bed, he knew hehad only half mastered them, for his thoughts had wandered continuallyfrom the subject of the lesson before him to the events of his day atschool, trying to discover what he had done to offend hisschoolfellows, that they should all at once send him to Coventry inthis fashion. The study of mathematics, French, chemistry, and physicsdid not help him to the solution of this problem; but the schoolmystery greatly hindered the other subjects from becoming clear to hismind, and when he took his place in class the next morning he knew itwould be a bad day for him with his class-work. 

It was worse even than he feared, and as he lost place after place, and went down at last even below the dunces of the form, it hurt himmore to see how gleeful the other boys were over his mistakes than tolose his place in the class. 

At last, when Horace had blundered worse than usual over some lesson, the master said, 'What is the matter with you to-day, Howard? Are youill? Have you got a headache?'

'No, sir, ' answered Horace, for he was a truthful lad, and could notavail himself of the excuse the master had thus offered him. 

'You could not have prepared your lessons last night, then; you knowthe rule about this, don't you?' said the master sternly. 

'Yes, sir; I studied my lessons for more than two hours last night, 'said Horace, reddening and growing more confused, for he knew all theclass were staring at him, and, as he fancied, glorying in hisdiscomfiture. In this he was not far wrong; but there were one or twowho pitied him in his various dilemmas, and would have broken that banof silence that had been decreed against him, but the leaders kepttheir eyes upon them, and they would not venture to brave thedispleasure of their elders. 

Altogether it was a cruelly hard day for Horace, and he felt stronglyinclined to say when he went home, that he would never go near theschool again, but become a carpenter like his brother. One trade wouldbe as good as another, if he could not go on and learn more of themysteries of chemistry and physics It was some consolation to himthat his master had told him to prepare a special lesson in chemistry, in readiness for some practical experiments that were to take placethe following day. 

In his eagerness over this Horace forgot the vexations and trials ofthe day, and had mastered it so quickly, that he was able to look overagain the lessons that had floored him in class. These imperfectlessons would be like the damaged links of a chain, and might bringhim trouble again and again, if he did not repair the mischief atonce; and so by the time he went to bed he had well-nigh mastered allthe difficulties, and worked himself into a state of self-content, which was about the best preparation for the next day's work, for hewent to sleep without a thought beyond his lessons, and took his placein the class looking bright and cheery once more. 

To-day was to be a sort of recapitulation of the previous fortnight'swork in chemistry, and the stupid blunders made the previous day weremore than atoned for, and at last when the boy had worked out abrilliant result that greatly surprised the master he said, 'Why, youmust have been ill yesterday. '

'No, sir, I was well, ' said Horace, seeing the master waited for ananswer. 'I was well enough, but I was not quite happy. '

'Well, then, let me advise you to make yourself happy in future underany circumstances. ' And then he added in an undertone, 'You are ascholarship lad, and we expect more from you than from some of theothers. '

'Thank you, sir, I'll try, ' said Horace; and throughout that day hedid not find it hard to try, as the master had suggested. 

The others had their eyes upon him, and were puzzled to account forhis success. They had made up their minds the previous day that theywould only have to carry on their present tactics for a short time, and Horace would leave the school in disgust, or else he would beasked to leave by the head master, and thus Torrington's would besaved from going to the dogs through this scholarship boy. But thisday's experience of what Horace could do under the terrible ban oftheir displeasure puzzled them, and they resolved to watch moreclosely, to make sure none of those who were suspected of faltering inallegiance to the decree of their leaders did not speak to him ontheir way home. 

But Horace himself did not expect this now. The first bitterness ofthe trial had worn off, and as soon as he was beyond the school gatehe set off home at a sharp trot, softly whistling to himself, as hepondered over what would be the probable effect if a certain acid theyhad been using was mixed with another substance entirely differentfrom anything they had used in that day's experiments. 

He whistled and thought, and turned the matter over and over in hismind, and finally ended by wishing that his mother could afford togive him pocket-money like most boys had to spend. This cost him asigh, as he thought he might as well wish for a slice of the moon atonce as for pocket-money, and by the time he got home he was whistlingto himself again as happily as ever. 

When he got in, his mother noticed his eager, animated looks. 

'Why, what has happened to make you so merry?' she said, as he threwup his cap in sheer exuberance of spirits. 

'Nothing much, mother; only I have got an idea. '

'Keep it, then, lad--keep it, ' said his brother, laughing. 

'All right, ' said Horace, thinking he should be under no temptation topart with it, since his schoolfellows would not speak to him. 'It's agood idea, I know, if I can only find out the way to carry it out, 'added Horace, at which his brother laughed, and his mother remarkedthat a good many people had ideas, but the difficulty was to carrythem into effect, so that they were of practical use. 

'Oh, it will want a good deal of thinking about, I know; but it hasmade me quite decide not to be a carpenter. '

'I thought you had made up your mind about that long ago, ' said Fred. 

'Ah, but I was thinking the other day it would be a great deal easierto be a carpenter, and earn money. I wasn't sure that I ought not todo something to help mother soon. '

'No, my boy, ' interrupted Mrs. Howard; 'it would not be your duty togive up all opportunity of using the talents God has given you, whenthe way has been made clear for you to receive the education that willfit you to use them by-and-by. Fred always liked cutting wood andmaking boats and stools, just as you are fond of making chemicalexperiments, and watching what the result will be. '

'I wouldn't be anything but a carpenter; but I shall study mathematicsmore, that I may do better at my trade by-and-by, ' said Fred. 'Everyman to his trade, I suppose; but there's nothing like making things, Ithink, ' he added. 

So the brothers agreed to differ; but it was a very happy evening toHorace, and he thought he had overcome all his difficulties, and couldbe very happy, in spite of the ban that his schoolfellows had placedupon him. He learned his lessons that night without difficulty, andthe next morning began to recover his place in the class; but the hourof recess tried him sorely. 

A few of the boys who lived in the neighbourhood went home to dinnerfrom one to two o'clock, but many who came from a distance broughtluncheon with them, or had dinner provided for them at the school. There was a luncheon room provided for those who brought their mealswith them, but Horace had preferred eating his slice of bread andbutter or bread and dripping, walking about the playground. There wereothers who did the same thing, but they walked in groups and chattedand frolicked, or played games, and when he first came Horace had beeninvited to join these, and had been initiated into the mysteries ofone game peculiar to the school, which was, therefore, very popularamong the boys. 

Now, however, this was altered. Horace was left severely alone, andthough a boy might go shouting round for another to make up the game, no one ever asked Horace to take the vacant place. He was left to walkup and down the side of the playground until the bell rang forafternoon school, and then the boys who might be near, as they werepassing in, took care to hold as far aloof from him as possible. 

Horace wondered how long this was going to last. He had made severalattempts to break through this silent persecution, but each boy towhom he had spoken had walked away as though he was stone deaf; and soat last Horace gave up the attempt, and tried to be happy in spite ofthis. 

'I say, Morrison, how much longer is that beggar going to hold out?'said Taylor, one day speaking to Leonard, as though he ought to knowall about it. 

Taylor had lost his place in the class, and so had Leonard, andneither felt very amiable. 

'Ask him, if you want to know. I'm nearly sick of it, I can tell you. It's lasted a month now, and I think we may as well give it up. '

'I daresay you do. My brother who has just come home from Oxford, saysit is your people who have brought him into the school. '

'My people!' shouted Leonard, crimson with wrath at the insinuation. 'Who do you mean by "my people?" and why should you think so?'

'Now don't get mad, Len, ' said Taylor in a quieter tone. 'But you knowyour father is on the County Council, and they say it was he whorecommended that Howard should be sent to Torrington's. '

'I don't believe it!' blazed Leonard Morrison; and then with fineinconsistency he added, 'If he did, it was because the fellow got ascholarship, and he had to go somewhere. '

'Anywhere but at Torrington's would have done for him, ' grumbledTaylor; 'and I think the master or the Council ought to turn him out, now they know the rest of the fellows don't like it. '

'But do they know we have sent him to Coventry?' asked Leonard. 

'Are they bats--do they go about with their eyes shut--haven't younoticed that Howard has been up in the chemistry "lab. " yesterday andto-day all the lunch time? I saw Skeats speaking to him yesterday justafter we came into the playground, and the two walked away together. It was the same again to-day, only Howard was looking out for him, andwent to meet him as soon as he appeared. Now what are we going to do, if the masters try to beat us at this game?'

'I say it isn't fair, ' answered Morrison. 

'Fair! I call it the meanest thing I ever heard of, and shows thatTorrington's is going to the dogs, masters and all. I wish you'd speakto your pater about it, Morrison. I think you might, now Skeats hastaken to interfering with us like this. '

Leonard shrugged his shoulders. 'I think it would be better forsomebody else to come and see my father, if they think he had anythingto do with sending that boy here. You don't know the pater. He'd justturn me inside out, and then laugh at me; but he couldn't serve anyother fellow that way. '

But Taylor shook his head. It was true that he did not know Dr. Morrison, but he had heard that this gentleman had said it would befor the advantage of Torrington's to receive a few scholarship boys, for they were sure to be sharp, studious lads, and it would waken theother boys up and put them on their mettle. So he declined to go andsee Mr. Morrison, but declared that Leonard ought to undertake themission on behalf of the school. 

'Look here, Curtis!' he called to another lad, who, like himself, wasone of the elders of the class, and consequently domineered a gooddeal over the rest. 'Morrison won't do his duty in upholding thehonour of the school. You come and talk to him. '

'What's the row?' asked Curtis loftily, sauntering up with his handsin his pockets, and looking down upon Leonard Morrison as a bigovergrown lad likes to look at one of his smaller schoolfellows, as ifto intimidate him with his superior height and bulk. 

'Now, then, little Morrison, speak up. What is it?' he said in asleepy tone, but trying to look fierce. 

'Why, it's just this, Curtis, that beggar we have sent to Coventrydon't seem inclined to take himself out of the school, and so somebodymust be made to move him. '

'Of course, ' said Curtis, who did not mind who the somebody might be, so long as he was not called upon to exert himself beyond a littlebullying, 'you hear, little Morrison, just you do as you're told!' hecommanded. 

'This is what I want him to do, ' explained Taylor. 'I have heard thatit is all through his father that we have got the beggar here, and soit's Mr. Morrison and that precious Council that must move him. '

'Of course, ' assented Curtis. 'You hear, Morrison?'

'I tell you it must be some of the other fellows that must go andexplain to the pater that the school don't like scholarship boys. Youdon't know my pater, ' he went on, a little plaintively. 'He would verylikely report us to the head master for sending the fellow toCoventry, and then where should we be?'

'Where we are now, but that fellow wouldn't. '

'I tell you, Curtis, you don't know the pater. He would ask what hehad done that the school had sent him to Coventry, and you know wellenough that we haven't acted on the square with him. '

'Oh, that's it, is it? You are going to take his part now, and peachon us!' raved Taylor. 

Curtis yawned. 'You'd better give in, and do as Taylor orders you. '

'Well, then, I should peach, and no mistake, if I told my father wehad sent the fellow to Coventry for the last month. "What for?" hewould say in his quiet way, while he looked into your very soul, sothat you knew you must make a clean breast of everything. No, thankyou. I don't mind going with you and Taylor and two or three otherfellows as a sort of deputation from----'

'Deputation be bothered!' interrupted Taylor viciously. 'Why should wego cap in hand to ask your father to take the fellow away? It ought tobe enough for you to tell him that the school don't like it, and thatwe are determined to uphold the honour of Torrington's. '

'Yes, that's it. We don't mean to let the school go to the dogs toplease anybody, ' said Curtis lazily. 

'Yes; and what are we to do next, for the beggar don't seem to carenow whether we send him to Coventry or not, and Skeats is giving thegame away by letting him go to the chemistry "lab. " every dinnerhour. '

'Let's send Skeats to Coventry, ' said Curtis. 

Leonard laughed at the suggestion, but Taylor grew more angry. 

'It's no good fooling over this now, ' he said. 'I have been talking tosome of the fellows in the sixth, and they have made up their mindsnot to have the beggar among them. '

'All right, let them get rid of him, then, ' said Curtis. 'I don't seewhy we should do their dirty work. When's he going up?'

'He swats as though he expected to go next term, ' complained LeonardMorrison, who had lost his place in the class that morning throughHorace. 

'Swats! It's shameful the pace that fellow goes with his lessons; andthe masters think we ought to do the same, ' foamed Taylor. 

'Ah, they've tried to force it upon all of us, ' observed Curtis; 'butI won't let it disturb me, I can tell you. '

'You don't mind being the dunce of the school, ' said Leonard, with ashort laugh. 

'I don't care what the fellows call me, so long as they let mealone, ' said the young giant, still with his hands in his pockets. Hewas getting tired of the discussion, and Taylor saw that it was oflittle use trying to threaten Leonard, and so he walked sulkily away, to try and think out some other means of getting rid of the obnoxiousscholarship boy. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE COCK OF THE WALK. 

'I say, Duffy, there's an awful row among the fellows at school;Taylor and Curtis are like raging bulls over this new fellow, and theysay it's all the pater's fault. '

The brother and sister were sitting at their lessons in the littleroom known as the study, as they sat when this story opened. Severalweeks, however, had elapsed since that time, and Florence, having herown cares and interests to think of, had well-nigh forgotten how shehad been appealed to in the matter of the new boy. 

'What are you talking about, Len?' she asked, after a pause, duringwhich she had been muttering over a French verb, with her handcovering the page, by way of testing whether she knew her lesson. 

'That's like a girl!' answered her brother tartly. 'I have told youmore than once or twice about that new boy at Torrington's, and nowyou ask me what I am talking about. '

'Oh, well, I didn't know he was so interesting as all that. You toldme a week or two ago that you had sent him to Coventry and settledhim, and so of course I thought it was all over, ' said the young lady, propping her chin in her hands and looking across at her brother. 

'But if a fellow won't be settled, what are you to do? I want you totell me that, Duffy. '

The young lady shook her head. 'Tell us all about it, Len, I'm notvery busy to-night. '

'Well, we sent that fellow to Coventry, as I told you--not that he's abad sort of chap; only he came from one of those beastly board schoolsin the town, and we didn't know who he was or what he was, and he kepthis mouth shut about his people, and so the fellows took up the notionthat Torrington's would soon go to the dogs if we let that sort ofcattle stay there, and so we said he must go. Well, we thought theCoventry game had done the trick for us just at first, for you neversaw such an awful ass as he made of himself one morning at all theclasses. "Howard, are you ill?" said Skeats at last, in his sharp way. And we thought the beggar would get off for the rest of the lessons. But, if you'll believe it, he was game enough to say, "No, sir, I'mquite well, " which was as good as telling Skeats he was a fool forasking such a question. '

Florence nodded. 'I like plucky boys, ' she said approvingly. 

'Well, it was a plucky thing to do, I daresay, but it didn't help himmuch with Skeats that day, for he never spared him a bit, as he didnot take the excuse that had been offered him, and he blundered andfloundered worse than ever, so that Curtis, the biggest dunce in theclass, answered for him, and took his place in the class. '

'What a shame!' said Florence, pityingly. 

'Well, I felt sorry for the poor little beggar at last, for we knew hehad swatted well over the lesson, and yet he seemed to have lost hiswits. "That's done the trick, " Taylor whispered to me, when Skeatsfrowned at him once for being such an ass. "We shan't see thatscholarship swatter here any more. "'

'Swatter, ' repeated Florence. 'But I thought you said he didn't knowhis lessons. '

'Ah! that once. But it wasn't for the want of swatting, for it wasjust that that put the fellows' backs up. He comes into the schoollooking as meek as a rabbit. "I've been to the board school, " he saysto Taylor, when he put him through the usual mill. Not a word did hesay about French and Latin, and so Taylor thought he would have himfor a fag, as he was a junior; but we soon found out that we shouldhave to swat over our lessons, and no mistake, if we were to keep outof rows with the masters. He set the pace, don't you see, till Taylorgot as mad as a hatter when he lost his place at the top of theclass, and then he said this new boy would have to go. '

'Because he learned his lessons better than the rest!' exclaimed hissister. 

'Well, not that exactly--of course not, ' replied her brother; 'but yousee he was only a board school boy, and his mother couldn't be a lady, and his brother is only a common carpenter, they say; and so for afellow like that to come to Torrington's would just ruin the school. That's why we want to get rid of him, don't you see?'

'No, I don't, ' said Florence, indignantly; 'and Taylor and the restare a set of mean cads!' The expression was not very elegant orladylike; but she had learned it from her brother, and knew he wouldfeel the reproach conveyed by this word more surely than by anythingelse she could say. 

It stung him into a fierce passion of wrath. 'What do girls know aboutboys' schools and boys' ways?' he demanded. 

'I know what you have told me about Taylor and the rest, and I saythey are not gentlemen, but a set of mean cads. ' She was careful notto include Leonard in this scathing denunciation, for she added, 'Ishould not like to think my brother would act like that. '

'Oh, well, Duffy, you see you are a girl, and can't be expected toknow everything; but I did tell Taylor to-day that I thought we mightleave the beggar alone, and let him out of Coventry now. '

'If I was the new boy, I would send you there, and see how you likedit. What are you going to do?' she asked. 

'That's just it--just what I wanted to talk to you about. The fellowssay it is all the pater's doings that Howard has been sent toTorrington's, and----'

Florence clapped her hands. 'Dear old daddy!' she said. 'He knew whatTorrington's wanted. Now go on, ' she added. 

'It's no good when you interrupt like that. I wanted to tell you whatthe fellows are saying; and now if I do, you'll just go and peachabout the whole thing. '

'Now, Len, did I ever peach about anything you told me? Haven't wealways been fair and square to each other?' expostulated his sister, who felt herself insulted by such a charge. 

'Yes, you always have been pretty fair for a girl, ' admitted herbrother, 'and I hope you'll remember that mum must be the word still. And mind, if you hear about this, you don't know anything, but justtell the pater to ask me about it. I don't want you to go and giveyour opinion about the school and the fellows, though Curtis and oneor two more may be a poor lot. The thing is, they feel themselvesinsulted by having this scholarship boy sent to Torrington's, and theywant me to speak to the pater about it. '

'Oh, do--do, and let me be there when you tell him, ' said Florence, her eyes dancing with glee at the prospect. 

'Don't be a duffer. Do you think I don't know my own daddy well enoughto know that it would be no good going to him with the fellows'complaints? I told Taylor he had better come and see the pater himselfabout it. '

'Of course, ' nodded Florence, 'that would be the proper way, and Ishould like to see them do it. ' And again the girl laughed. 

This seemed to annoy her brother. 'It's all very well for you tolaugh, ' he said. 'You don't know what it is to be mixed up with suchan affair, and I want to know what I am to do. '

'What do they want you to do?'

'Haven't I told you? They say I must get the pater to remove Howardfrom the school at once. And one of the fellows told me as I came homethat he overheard Taylor and Curtis say that, if it wasn't pretty soondone, they'd send me to Coventry, and find out some other way to getrid of Howard. '

'I wouldn't care if I was you. '

'Wouldn't you? If you was a boy, you'd know what it was to be sent toCoventry, perhaps, and let me tell you, you wouldn't want a seconddose. It's none so pleasant, I can tell you, to have this fellow turnhis back, and begin to whistle if you attempt to speak to him. Why, they make it so strict at Torrington's that if the master sends amessage to a fellow in Coventry, they fetch a junior to deliver it. Oh, I know enough to make me hate the thought of it, and so wouldyou. '

'Girls are not so nasty as that, ' said Florence, 'but I tell you whatyou could do if they send you to Coventry--chum up with the new boy. Ishould think he was a nice fellow. '

But Leonard turned up his nose at the suggestion. 'He isn't much atgames, ' he said. 'I don't think he ever saw a fives court until hecame to Torrington's; and I do like a good game at fives. '

'I'd play by myself then, ' said his sister. 

'Ah! and see every other fellow pick up his ball and walk out of thecourt as soon as you appeared. You'd feel like playing then, wouldn'tyou?' he added. 

His sister sighed. She was very fond of Leonard, although he was notvery brave, she feared. Still, big lads like Taylor and Curtis couldmake things very uncomfortable for the younger and weaker lads, likeLeonard. 

'Now just see if you can't help me out of this hole, Flo, ' said theboy, after another pause. 'I told the fellows I'd do somethingto-night, and I must, you know. '

'Do something!' repeated his sister, 'what do you want to do?'

'I don't want to do anything. The poor beggar might stay atTorrington's for ever if he liked; but you see the others have settheir faces against it, and they say I must either make the paterremove him, or else think of another plan to get rid of him. Don't yousee, Duffy, I must do one or the other?'

'No, I don't see; and you shan't call me Duffy either, if you mean tohelp these wretched cads at Torrington's, and I'll never own you for abrother again!' His sister spoke calmly, but with the utmost scorn andcontempt in her tones, and then laid her head on the table and burstinto tears. 'I'm ashamed of you, I am!' she sobbed through her tears. 

Leonard stared at her in silent amazement for a minute or two, andthen said slowly, 'You don't know this scholarship boy, do you?'

She shook her head. 'Of course I don't, ' she said, as soon as shecould speak. 

'Then what are you crying for? I'd be ashamed to cry for a fellow I'dnever seen; and you a girl too!'

Florence started to her feet as her brother uttered this taunt; anddashing away her tears, with blazing eyes she exclaimed, 'It is notfor this strange boy I am crying, but for _you_--that you are as mucha cad as Taylor and the rest!' Then, gathering up her books, shemarched out of the room with the air of an offended duchess. 

'Ah, you're only a girl!' exclaimed Leonard as she departed; and hebroke into a whistle, but it soon ended in a sigh, when the doorclosed and he was left to himself. 

'I wonder what girls are made of, ' he said, as he slowly opened hislesson books. 'To think of Duffy flying at me like that! She called mea cad too, nasty little thing! I won't speak to her for a week, whenwe come in here to lessons. I'll give her a taste of Coventry, and seehow she likes it. ' And Leonard set himself to master a Latin verb. Butbefore he had conned it three minutes his thoughts had wandered to hissister, and from her to Taylor and the lads at school, who expectedhim to solve the problem that they had made into a bogey--how to getrid of the scholarship boy, since all their efforts thus far hadfailed. 

Before he got to school the next morning he met half a dozen of hisschoolfellows. 

'Well, what's the news, Morrison?' asked two or three in a breath. 'You know, of course, Taylor expects you to bring a message from yourfather about that fellow to-day. '

'Blessed are they that expect nothing, for they shall never bedisappointed, ' said Leonard in a tantalising tone. 

'Well, you can cheek us, of course, little Morrison, but it won't dofor Taylor, let me tell you. He don't mean to stand any nonsense. Thatfellow's got to go. We don't mean to have any board school boys here. Torrington's was founded for gentlemen, and we don't mean to have cadshere. We've made up our minds about it, and the sooner your father andthat precious Council understand this the better. '

'Did Taylor tell you to say all that?' said Morrison sneeringly, 'Howlong have you been his fag?' he asked of the lad who had spoken. 

'Oh, well, fag or no fag, you'll know it when Taylor comes. ' And, asif in verification of his words, Taylor called to them the next minuteto wait for him. 

'We're late now, ' shouted Leonard back, and then he started off at asharp pace towards the school, for he had not quite made up his mindyet what he should tell Taylor, by way of excuse for not speaking tohis father, and so he did not want to meet him just now. 

He could not help noticing, as he ran, that none of the rest attemptedto join him, but waited at the corner of the road they had beencrossing for Taylor to come up. 

'So Morrison has skulked off, ' he said, as soon as he joined them. 

'I believe he wanted to get out of your way, ' said one. 

'I shouldn't wonder, ' said the bigger lad; 'but he need not think he'sgoing to do it. I tell you that I've been ferreting out things a bit, and I know now that it was Dr. Morrison that persuaded the CountyCouncil to send that fellow to Torrington's, and so he must and shalltake him away, and that pretty soon too, and I mean to tell Morrisonthat. '

'How are you going to do it?' asked one. 

'Oh, through Morrison junior, of course. There isn't much spunk abouthim, and he'll soon cry Peccavi! when we put the screw on. '

'What will you do--how will you do it?' asked one. 

'Send him to Coventry as we did the other, ' was the prompt reply. 

'Oh, that be bothered; we can't be worried with two there at once. Youmust think of something else. '

'Bless you, the threat of it will be enough for little Morrison. He'llgive in when he hears the mystic word Coventry!'

'You'll give him another chance it he hasn't brought the message?'

'Well, I shall hear what he's got to say first. Now look alive, there's the last bell, and we shall all get an imposition instead of apleasant talk with little Morrison, if we don't get inside thatgate. '

As he spoke the heavy clang of the school gate was heard, and the boyslooked at each other as Taylor ejaculated, 'Dash it all! they haven'trung that last bell two minutes, and that's the regulation time. ' Theypropped their backs against the wall and rested after their run, forthe gate would not be opened again until prayers were over in school, and then their names would be taken as they went in, and an extralesson would be exacted from them in the dinner hour. 

'Don't let little Morrison get off without seeing me in theafternoon, ' said Taylor. 'I sha'n't be able to nail him in the dinnerhour, but it will give me a bit more time to think of some otherplan. '

'It's a beastly shame they ever sent that scholarship boy toTorrington's!' said another lad, as though he did not like the task ofhunting him out. 

'Oh, well, he's here, and we must get him out, ' said Taylor, as thoughhe rather liked the hunt. Just then the gate opened, and the ladsfiled in. Nearly a dozen were late from the whole school; and each ashe passed was asked if he had brought a note to excuse this breach ofthe rule, and then they passed on to their different class-roomsinstead of going to the hall for prayers. 

The being late and consequent imposition of an extra lesson did notimprove Taylor's temper, and when he met Leonard at the close ofafternoon school he was in a towering rage. 

'Now, then, Morrison, out with it! What message has your father sentto the school for his abominable behaviour--what has he to say forhimself?'

Leonard looked a little scared at the abruptness and tone of thisquestion, and he answered very quietly, 'My father was busy lastnight, and I could not speak to him about it. '

'Busy, was he? Well, it won't be good for you if he's busy to-night, let me tell you, for the school don't mean to wait any longer, and ifthat fellow isn't soon removed, you shall both go. Do you hear, littleMorrison, we mean to clear the school of all vermin at once?'

'Why didn't you tell him to take himself off?' said one, when Taylorhad walked away. 'This is getting a bit too much. You stand up foryourself and your father, if he comes any more of that bullying. Whatright has he to say who shall come to Torrington's? If he had spokenof my father like that, he should have had a black eye, if he killedme for it afterwards!' added his friend. 

Leonard sighed, 'You don't know Taylor as well as I do, ' he said. 'Heisn't a bad sort of fellow, if you let him have his own way. '

'But it's such a beastly way that I wouldn't put up with it, ' said theother. 'He may be "the cock of the walk, " but he need not think we areall going to cackle to him like a set of hens. I mean to take thatfellow out of Coventry after this. Come on, let us both walk home withhim a bit, and see how the cock likes that. There's Howard just ahead;let's catch him. '

But instead of quickening his pace Leonard looked timorously back; andthere was Taylor with a group of lads round him vigorously declaimingagainst the County Council for sending one of their scholarship boysto Torrington's. So Leonard felt afraid to join this unpopularscholar, and set himself in defiance of the present wave of anger thatwas passing over his friends, and he turned down a by-road and walkedhome by himself. 

CHAPTER IV. 

DR. MORRISON. 

Leonard Morrison found himself sent to Coventry, not by hisschoolfellows, but by his sister. It was just the punishment he haddecided she deserved for daring to have an opinion of her own thatdiffered from his, and so to find himself 'hoist with his own petard'made him very angry. 

'Where is Flo going to do her lessons to-night?' he asked his mother, when he went to the study and found it in darkness. His sister usuallylighted the lamp ready for him, but his mother had come with him to doit to-night. 

'She has gone to her own room--she wants to be quiet, she says. Youshould not talk so much, Lenny dear, ' added the lady. 

'Nasty little thing! She has been telling tales, I suppose?'

'She did not say what you had been talking about, if that is what youmean, ' said Mrs. Morrison, 'but your father heard a great deal ofchatter, he says. '

'So Flo has taken herself off, ' said Leonard, as he took his seat andopened his school satchel. 'A nice time I shall have, if Taylor keepshis word and sends me to Coventry at school! I shall lose the use ofmy tongue in about a week, if nobody will speak to me. It's a livelylook-out, any way, and what have I done to deserve it, I should liketo know?'

Leonard considered himself a very ill-used individual just then, andhe was specially angry with his sister because she had so neatlyturned the tables upon him in leaving him to do his lessons alone. 

He missed her sadly as the time went on, and there was no one togrumble at or ask advice from. What to do about speaking to his fatherhe did not know, and at last he decided to say something to his motherabout the matter; not that he meant to tell her all, but he would justask her if she thought Taylor was right in his statement. 

So when Mrs. Morrison came into the room with his slice of cake forhis supper, he said, 'Do you know whether father had anything to dowith sending that scholarship boy to Torrington's?'

'Why--isn't he a good boy?' said the lady. 

'That isn't it, mother. He may be good--I dare say he is--but didfather send him there?'

'The County Council sent him; your father would not have the power. '

'I suppose not, ' said Leonard in a satisfied tone. 

'But why did you ask, my boy?' said the lady. 

'Oh, it doesn't matter, ' said Leonard, lightly. 'As long as daddydidn't send him it's all right. '

'But what has happened? What sort of a boy is he?'

'Oh, he's all right, I dare say. Boys can't peach, you know, mother. '

And Leonard's light words sent his mother out with an aching heart. 

'More trouble, I fear, ' she said softly to herself, as she closed thedoor and went back to the dining-room. 'Poor Dick! poor, dear Dick!What misery he has brought to us all! And yet he was neverwicked--only weak. '

The lady buried her face in her handkerchief for a few minutes, butroused herself when she heard the street door open and close, and wentand rung the bell for supper to be served. 

'You are late to-night, dear, ' she said, when her husband entered theroom. 

'Yes, I have had a busy day, and am as hungry as a hunter. Chicks goneto bed, I suppose, he added, as he looked round the room before goingto wash his hands and change his coat for a comfortable hour by hisown fireside. 

A tasty hot supper was on the table when he came back, but he noticedas he ate that his wife scarcely touched hers; but he did not ask whatwas troubling her until the meal was over and the table cleared. Thenhe said, leaning back in his chair--

'Now, little woman, I have done my duty to your nice supper, which Iknow is all you have been waiting for. Now tell me what is amiss. HasFlo cut her finger, or Len got into mischief?' he asked. 

'No, dear, the children are all right, ' said Mrs. Morrison, with asigh; 'but I have been wondering whether you were wise to get thatlittle board school boy sent to Torrington's. You did have a good dealto do with it, I know, ' added the lady. 

'To be sure I did. The lad had fairly earned the Thompson Scholarship, and, from all we heard of the lad and his relatives, we thought hewould be an acquisition to the school rather than otherwise. Hismother was a patient of mine about a year ago, and from all I saw thenI concluded that they were people who had come down in the world, forit was easy to see that they were superior to their surroundings, andI thought then that if ever it was in my power to help them I woulddo so. The father is abroad, travelling, I understand; but he seems tohave left his family badly provided for. What have you heard about theboy?'

'Oh, nothing, ' promptly replied Mrs. Morrison. 'Only from a word Lennydropped I fancy he is not popular at the school, and you know whatqueer notions people take sometimes; and if it was said that Dr. Morrison sent a board school boy to the school they are all so proudof, we might have all our old troubles over again. '

The doctor laughed. 'You think half my patients must be offended aswell as the boys at Torrington's! I have heard a whisper that some ofthem don't like the new scholar; but he will live it down, I daresay, and I am not going to notice it. '

'But, my dear, if you should lose your patients? If this boy shoulddisgrace himself, people will be sure to say that you had no businessto send him to such a school, and the worst of the trouble is sure tocome upon us. '

'Ah, I see you have been saddling the horse ready to go and meet it!How many times am I to tell you, little woman, to wait until thetrouble comes to you, and then to look it squarely in the face andfight it, if fighting is likely to do any good, and if it is not, thenbear it with all the patience and courage that God will give you, ifyou only do your share in the matter? Now what has Master Len beensaying about this lad?'

'He asked if it was true that you were the means of sending thatscholarship boy to Torrington's. The boys had said you did it. 

The doctor laughed. 'Murder will out, you see, Maria. '

'I told him the County Council sent him, and of course they did. '

'Quite true; but I had the casting vote in the matter, and I votedthat the lad should go to Torrington's, both for the sake of theschool and the boy, and also that I might hear incidentally from Lenwhat sort of a lad he was. What does he say?'

'Nothing definite. He wanted to know whether it was true that you hadsent him, and when I asked why, he said boys were not allowed to telltales, or words to that effect. 

The doctor smiled. 'Then it's nothing very bad, ' he said, 'and if thislad can only hold his own among some of those big louting lads, hewill do our school a world of good. '

'How is he to do that?' asked the lady. 

'Why, this boy has formed the habit of steady application to the taskbefore him, whatever it may be. If he had not, he could not havepassed the examination necessary to gain this scholarship. NowTorrington's sadly needs a few lads like this, for it is beginning tosuffer from the dry rot that a great name often brings to a schoolafter some years. The sons of wealthy men are sent there, who have noneed to toil with either hands or brains, and they take care not to doit themselves, and to hinder others from doing it if they can. ForLen, and lads like him, this example is bad; and so to introduce astudious lad, who will think less of games than of lessons, has becomea necessity, if Torrington's is to be saved from going to the dogs;and I should be very sorry to see the school go down. I went therewhen I was a lad, and have always been proud of Torrington's, and thatis why I am anxious to save it from collapse. '

'I believe Lenny is just as proud of it as you are, ' said his wife. 

'I should hope so. I don't think much of a lad who is not proud andfond of his school, and ready to fight for its honour against allantagonists. '

'I think all Torrington's lads feel the same about their school, ' saidMrs. Morrison. 'But suppose some of them should think a poor boy, whois dependent upon a scholarship for his schooling, beneath the rest ofthe scholars? I cannot forget the old trouble, ' she added. 

'Then they must learn to know better! Learn to consider that there issomething more in the world than money worth consideration. This iswhat I am afraid is spoiling some of the Torrington boys just now, andit is high time it was checked. We talked this aspect of the matterover at the Council meeting--for there are several old boys among uswho are proud of our school--and we agreed that a little new bloodamong these purse-proud young gentlemen would do them a world of good, and I hope this boy may be what is needed among them. As for the oldtrouble, ' went on Dr. Morrison, 'that is left behind, I hope; but youmust remember that it arose from a very different cause. Your brotherDick behaved very badly to more than one of my patients, and sodisgraced us. '

'Poor, dear Dick!' said the lady with a sigh; 'I am sure he neverintended to do us any harm. '

'I never thought he did. No one who knew Dick would think that of him;but the misery came to us all the same, and Dick was responsible forit. '

This allusion to her brother brought the tears to Mrs. Morrison'seyes. He had been such a bright, winning lad. When he was the age ofLeonard he had only one fault that she would admit, even now, and thatwas that he was too easily led. He could not say 'No, ' though not tosay it and abide by it under the circumstances was wrong. This endedat last in what was little less than a crime, for which they had topay the penalty in a long struggle against adverse circumstances, andeventually to leave Liverpool, and return to Mr. Morrison's nativetown and begin the world afresh. 

This ending to what might have been a bright and honourable career forher brother, and a no less prosperous one for her husband, was a verybitter trial to the lady; and though Dr. Morrison's practice was nowsteadily increasing, anything that rendered him less popular mightbring back the old trouble she feared. 

In thinking thus she, of course, exaggerated the circumstances inevery way, for, in point of fact, not even Mrs. Howard knew that itwas through the doctor's influence that Horace was sent to the sameschool with his own son; and as the name of Morrison was not mentionedby Horace, she did not know that he was there for some time. Her sonwas industrious and fond of scientific study, and had fairly won thescholarship, she was assured by the schoolmaster. He was very proud toadd that Horace was the first scholarship boy who had been sent by theCounty Council to Torrington's. But that her doctor had had anythingto do with the selection of a school for Horace she knew nothing. 

She heard afterwards that it was the best school in the county; butshe thought more of whether Horace would be able to do the lessonsrequired of him, without overworking himself, and also whether shewould be able to keep him suitably clothed, so that he did not lookparticular among the other lads. 

The school was nearly two miles from their home, so that he would wearout his boots very fast, she reflected, when considering ways andmeans. There was a small allowance made for this, after the schoolfees were paid out of the scholarship money, and it was theconsideration of this that made Horace resume wearing the old jacket, when his mother wished him to keep on with his best one, which he hadworn for the first week or two. 

In fact, he had worn the best jacket until he was so mysteriously sentto Coventry, and though he carefully kept this fact to himself, it wasthe underlying meaning of what he told her when he said it would makeno difference to him at school whether he wore a new or an old jacket. 

Of the bitterness underlying the words that were said, that she shouldnot spend too much on his clothes, she knew nothing. Indeed, after thefirst week or two Horace was very reticent about what passed atschool, rarely mentioned a schoolfellow by name, and seemed absorbedin his lessons all the evening. He talked sometimes to Fred about hismysterious idea, which she knew was connected with chemistry; butbeyond this she knew very little of her boy's life at this time. Sometimes he looked worried as he sat poring over his books, as thoughthey were a little beyond his power, she thought; and then she wouldsay, 'Now, Horace, if you are getting tired, give it up. You knowgoing to this school is quite an experiment for you, and if you failto keep up with the rest it will be no disgrace to own it. You havebeen looking pale the last day or two. '

'I feel quite well, mother; and as to keeping up with the rest, well, you should see the young giant who is always at the bottom of theclass. ' And Horace laughed as he mentally recalled the perpetuallyyawning figure of Curtis, with his back propped against the wall. 'Ibelieve he would go to sleep outright if it wasn't for the mastersaying, "Now, Curtis, keep your ears and eyes open!"'

'Poor fellow! perhaps he does not feel able to do the work, ' said Mrs. Howard pityingly. 

'Well, he doesn't let lessons trouble him much. He and "the cock ofthe walk, " that's another big chap who doesn't care much about books, they take it pretty easy, except when they get an "impot, " and thattakes all their dinner time. '

'And what do you do at dinner time?' asked his brother at this point. 

'Eat my dinner, to be sure, ' answered Horace. 

'Well, you don't look much the better for it. Mother, I'm going to bepaid an extra shilling a week, and I vote it goes in dinners for theboy with an idea, ' said Fred. 

'No! No! I can do very well, and I enjoy my dinner hours now, for Ioften go up to the "lab. , " and have a nice time to myself. Mr. Skeatstold me I might go, if I did not take any of the other boys with me. You see, some of them might get up to larks, and----'

'Why don't you get up to larks?' interrupted his brother. 

Horace laughed, 'Oh, you know that isn't much in my way, and there'sroom for everybody in a big school like Torrington's. '

'I wish the youngster did not look so serious, ' said Fred, after hisbrother had gone to bed that night. 

'He always was quiet, ' remarked his mother. 

'Quiet, yes; but now he looks up from his book sometimes, as though hehad a world of care upon his mind. '

'Perhaps he is thinking over his "idea. " You know he could talk ofnothing else for a day or two, ' said Mrs. Howard. 

'Well, he doesn't talk much now, at any rate, and I am wonderingwhether he is quite happy at that school. '

'But surely he would tell us if he was not. I have asked him again andagain. I think he would tell us if there was anything wrong. '

'Now, mother, don't vex yourself, or I shall be sorry I have spoken. Just let that extra shilling a week I am to have go for theyoungster's mid-day meal. Get him something better than bread andbutter to take with him--sandwiches or a little meat-pie. They saypeople who work with their brains want as much to eat as those whowork with their hands, and I am sure two slices of bread and butterwouldn't satisfy me at twelve o'clock. '

CHAPTER V. 

THE CHAMPION. 

'Mother, I think I shall be obliged to wear that other jacket to go toschool, ' said Horace one evening as he ate his dinner. 

He had come home from school looking almost radiant, and his motherhad heard incidentally that one of the other boys had walked most ofthe way with him. 

'But I thought you said no one lived this way?' said Mrs. Howard. 

'Oh, I think Warren came out of his way a bit that we might finish ourtalk! He likes history awfully, and so do I a bit, and we got talkingabout those old battles, and almost forgot the time. Now, mother, don't you think I had better take my best jacket for school? Thesleeves of this are getting so short. '

His mother laughed. 

'Why, I told you the same thing a month ago, ' she said, 'but youinsisted that it did not matter!'

'Well, you know, I don't want to cost you more than I am obliged forclothes, and I thought I might wear the old jacket a bit longer, as Ishould wear out so many boots; but now----' And there Horace stopped, lest he should say something that might betray how his schoolfellowshad treated him lately. 

'You must be careful to wear the linen apron and sleeves while you doyour chemistry work, ' remarked his mother, 'for you are beginning tomake the old one a variegated colour. '

'All right, I'll be careful; but I thought Warren looked at my handspoking too far through the sleeves of that old one, and Warren is anice fellow; I should not like to hurt his feelings, ' said Horace. 

'Ah! you find that some lads are more particular about their clothesthan you are. Yes, wear the best jacket by all means, and I have nodoubt I shall be able to buy you a new one when you want it. '

So the matter was settled, and the next morning he met his new friendas they had arranged, and the two boys had a pleasant chat on allsorts of subjects as they walked along the road. Just before theschool was reached, and when they came within sight of other groups ofboys, Horace stopped short, and said--

'Now you had better go on; it don't matter if I am late, I have plentyof time in the dinner hour to do the imposition. '

'What do you mean--what do you take me for?' said Warren, thrustinghis arm through his companion's. 

'Well, you know the school have sent me to Coventry lately; and if youknow what for, it's more than I do, so that it isn't likely to alterits opinion in a hurry, ' said Horace. 

'Oh, the school be bothered!' said Warren. 'Of course a fellow has todo the same as the rest when he is at school, but "the cock of thewalk" is going a bit too far this time, and I mean to let the wholelot see that I won't follow the lead, when I don't think it's fair andsquare. If they had any good reason for sending you to Coventry, I'dsee you hanged before I'd try to take your part; but I like fair play, and it is not a fair game they are playing against you now. '

'But suppose they send you to Coventry as well?' said Horace. 

'Oh, they will, you bet. Taylor and Curtis and that crowd are sure todo it, and I dare say they will rage like a bull in a china shop. Comeon here. They see we are going in arm-in-arm. '

A storm of hisses greeted their appearance at the school gate, andHorace changed colour and his arm shook; but Warren gripped him thetighter, so that he could not get away. 

'Is it worth while sticking to me if the rest don't like it?'whispered Horace. 

'Is anything worth fighting for as those old Englishmen fought in theCivil War--Hampden and that lot?' Warren's face was flaming, and heheld his head high, as he led Horace through the hooting crowd ofboys, while he asked this question loud enough for any of them tohear. 

Horace did not answer. He almost wished Warren would leave him alone. But this was not that gentleman's way. 'I tell you what it is, Howard, ' he said, when they had reached the comparative shelter of theplayground, where the hooting had to cease, for fear the master shouldinsist upon knowing what it was about. 'I have been thinking a lot ofwhat we were talking about last night, and it's my opinion that therewould not be so many tyrants in the world if they did not find easyvictims. You knuckled under to "the cock of the walk" at the firsttouch, when you ought to have said, "Now, what do you mean by sendingme to Coventry? What rule of the school have I broken?"'

'Ah, but you know we are not rich people. I am only a scholarship boy, and come from a board school. '

'As if I didn't know that. As if my pater has not told me a dozentimes lately that he wishes he had sent me to a board school when Iwas young. Bless you, we are not rich. My father is only a doctor, like Morrison's, and there are swarms and swarms of children in thenursery, so you may know we haven't got money to roll in, like Curtis. No, old fellow, we are two poor boys, and so we'll just stand shoulderto shoulder, and fight the lot, if they want to fight us. Now mind, you've got to fight for me, and I'll fight for you; and we'll let 'emsee what two can do, if nobody else joins us. Little Morrison will, though I think Taylor has led him a dog's life lately; and so I shouldthink he would be glad enough to cut that shop, and join Howard andCo. '

Horace laughed as he had not done since he had been at Torrington's. He was ready enough to fight for his new friend, and when one or twotried to hustle them apart as they were going to school, he did nothesitate to push one of them off, when he was crowding down uponWarren. 

The boy turned and scowled at Horace. 'Who are you?' he demandedangrily. 

'The scholarship boy, and this is my friend, ' he said, still holdingon to Warren, and dealing some sharp thrusts at those who were tryingto push between them. There could be no great demonstration here inthe lobby of the school, or the masters would want to know what thequarrel was about. 

At dinner time there was little opportunity for the new friends tomeet, for the science master, if he did not know, shrewdly guessed theattitude taken by the rest of the class towards the scholarship boy, and so had contrived to find something for him to do in the chemistrylaboratory during the recess; and Horace was only too glad of thechange to do a little extra practical work towards the elucidation ofhis idea, which grew all the more interesting, as he saw it would needgreat care and industry to arrive at the result. 

But when afternoon school was over Warren waited about until Horaceappeared, and then he said, 'Just go on a little way, while I speak toMorrison. I want him to come with us, for I know that "cock of thewalk" is bullying him, and if he'll just join us we shall be three tothe other lot. Little Morrison isn't a bad sort of fellow, when youcan get him to make up his mind, and the Curtis lot are getting a dealtoo cocky. '

So Horace walked on to the corner of the road, and Warren waited forLeonard; but the moment Taylor saw him speak to the lad he pounceddown upon him. 'Now look here, Morrison, ' he said, 'if you go talkingto Warren now he's joined that fellow in Coventry, you'll be sentthere yourself by the rest of the school. I'll give you a week tothink over what we were talking about at dinner time;' and Taylor, ashe spoke, slipped his arm into Leonard's and walked him off, leavingWarren to try and persuade another boy to join him in his walk homewith Horace. 

But the Taylor and Curtis party were too strong just now for anotherto rebel against their rule, and so the two lads walked home bythemselves, amid the derisive cheers of Taylor and a few others. 

This state of things continued for a few days--the two friendslearning to know and like each other better each time they met, andcared less for the company of others. Then a quarrel broke out in theranks of the popular party, and Warren heard that Taylor was sohectoring the others as to what they should do, that at last, out ofsheer perversity, two or three came to walk home with them, and held adiscussion concerning Taylor and his ways that ought to have made thatyoung gentleman's ears tingle. 

'We're all in Coventry now, of course, ' said one boy, 'and I vote thatwe make ourselves jolly over it. I say, Howard, I want you to tell mehow you get your lessons done, for you're always ready with an answer, and I've been so floored lately that I've had a private message if Idon't do better I shall have to go down among the juniors, and thatwould make my people wild. '

Horace laughed at the idea of there being any royal road to theacquisition of lessons but the one of careful, steady, thoughtfulstudy. 

'Then you do swat awfully, as the fellows say, and that's what theyare so mad about. Taylor says Torrington's will be nothing better thana swatting shop, and no place for gentlemen, if it isn't stopped. '

Horace opened his eyes. 'I thought we went to school that we mightlearn all we could!' he said. 

'Oh, Torrington's has got so fashionable that fellows have come tothink of it as an easy-going place, where they need not work if theydon't like it. '

'Just what my pater says!' exclaimed Warren. 'And he told me that if Ididn't turn over a new leaf he should send me somewhere else. Now Ipropose we make ourselves into a swatting club. I believe Mr. Masonwould be glad if we did. '

'I'm sure Skeats would, ' said another. 

'Well, there are six of us here. Suppose we agree that we'll stick toour work of an evening till we've got our lessons perfect for thenext day. '

'Won't Taylor be mad when he finds it out!' said another. But, asTaylor had offended them, the suggestion added piquancy to the notion. And so before they separated each pledged himself to join the newswatting club. It was not an elegant name for a party of students tocall themselves, but the object of the combination was good, and waswarmly commended by the parents, who were taken into the confidence oftheir sons. 

If the little party of students thought they were going to have aneasy time of it at school, they were mistaken; for Taylor and the morepopular party soon found out by the answers given in the classes whatthe new combination meant, and he was more angry than ever. 

'A parcel of beggars who set themselves up to be gentlemen have nobusiness at Torrington's; and the sooner they take themselves off thebetter!' he exclaimed angrily, when discussing this new departure witha few of his chosen friends. 

Warren overheard what he said, and was not averse to a duel of wordswith 'the cock of the walk. '

'Who do you call gentlemen?' he demanded--'those who live in glasshouses, and the son of a man who used to keep----'

Taylor did not wait to hear more. Before the objectionable word couldbe spoken Warren received a blow that felled him to the ground. 

It came so unexpectedly and was struck so unfairly that there was aninstant cry of, 'Coward! coward! Fight it fair and square!'

'All right, let him come on, ' said Taylor. But Warren was in no fitcondition to stand up to his antagonist just now, for he had struckhis head as he had fallen, and lay for a minute or two quiteunconscious. Some of the boys grew alarmed, and all were glad to seethe boy open his eyes and the colour slowly return to his face. Theywere outside the school premises when the incident occurred, and theyall took care to walk away as quickly as they could, lest the master'sattention should be called to the quarrel, and they be compelled togive an account of it, which would not have been at all to theirtaste, as they preferred to manage their own affairs in their own way, with as little interference from the masters as possible in what theyregarded as their own private business. 

Taylor was one of the first to walk off when he saw Warren was gettingbetter, and the rest, who had hoped to enjoy the spectacle of a fight, were disappointed. There were plenty to urge Warren to 'take it out'of Taylor another day, and plenty more to side with the bigger lad, and urge him to 'have it out' with Warren for his 'cheek' in daring todispute the authority of the majority of the class, and speak to thescholarship boy when he had been sent to Coventry. 

Leonard Morrison was one of the foremost in urging Taylor to fight itout. 

'The school expects it of you, ' urged Leonard. 'He said your fatherwas----'

'Shut up, will you!' snarled Taylor, turning his angry gaze uponLeonard. 'If he has taken that fellow out of Coventry, it was a pluckything to do in the face of the whole class, and I like pluck, ' headded, 'though I may get the kicks. '

It was plain that 'the cock of the walk' was seriously hurt or alarmedby what Warren had said, for he ceased to crow as loudly as usual, andwalked home without noticing what his satellites said, his eyes benton the ground, and evidently lost in thought over something thatdisturbed him more than the prospect of a fight with Warren. 

Of course, as this was the latest phase of the scholarship boyquestion, it occupied more of the thought and attention than theearlier question; and so Horace walked into school the next morningchatting with one or two others, and no protesting hisses wereraised. 

It was noticed that Warren was not with him, and he looked roundanxiously from time to time in search of his friend. But the daypassed, and he did not appear, and the boys' spirits were damped alittle in consequence, for they remembered now that they had heardthat a blow on the head might prove dangerous to Warren. 

But, to the relief of everybody, the two friends were seen comingalong the road together the next morning, and when Taylor appearedround a bend in the road Warren walked up and joined him. 

'Look here, Taylor, I had no business to say what I did the other day, for I can't fight you, it seems. My father has forbidden it, because----'

'Then you won't repeat what you said the other day?' interruptedTaylor eagerly. 

'What do you take me for? I should be a cad if I did. Besides, I cansee now that I have no business to blame you for what----No, I'm notgoing to say anything, ' he whispered, in answer to Taylor's frown. 'Let every tub stand on its own bottom, I say. '

'All right, old fellow, we'll let the matter drop, then, and, mind, mum is the word between us. '

'Right you are, ' said Warren, and then he ran off to join Horace, forhe had drawn Taylor aside to say this, as neither of them wishedtheir talk to be overheard. 

Whatever it might be that Warren had heard concerning the antecedentsof Taylor's family, he could not be more sensitive upon the point thanWarren was over his inability to fight without danger to his life. Fora schoolboy to be told that he cannot stand up in a fair, square fightwithout bringing the danger to his antagonist of being charged withmanslaughter, had brought such a shock to the boy that it was this, rather than the effects of the fall, that made his father forbid himgoing to school the previous day. The lad had wondered how he was toget out of finishing the fight already begun; and it demanded agreater amount of courage on his part to walk up to Taylor and ask himto let the matter end where it was, than to stand up before him for aturn at fisticuffs, even with the almost dead certainty of getting theworst of it. 

He had told his secret to Horace as he came along, glad of a confidantwho would understand his difficulty; and Horace had counselled that heshould make up his quarrel with Taylor, even though it involvedthrowing him over, if Taylor should make the demand. 

Warren shook his head. 'I shan't do that, ' he said. 'I think we shallfind another way, and you can tell the fellows we have agreed to cryquits. But don't tell them I can't stand up and fight, for fear theother fellow should get sent to prison afterwards. That's the dreadfulpart about it, and that's what my father says would be pretty sure tofollow. What an awful muff I must be!' sighed the boy, 'worse than anygirl!'

'But look here, you've just done something that took a lot morecourage of another sort, ' said Horace, who was ready to make a hero ofhis new friend for managing the affair with Taylor without throwinghim over. 'You did a plucky thing too, speaking to me in the face ofall the class. '

'Oh, that was just part of the fight that is in me. I believe I wasborn a fighter, and now for the sake of other people I must be mum, and go through the world like a girl. '

'I don't know anything about girls; I never had a sister, so I can'ttell what they are like, but I know you will have plenty of the othersort of courage when it is wanted, so you need not mind much, if youcan't fight with your fists. '

They had reached the crowd of boys near the gate now, and two or threepressed eagerly forward, to know when and where the fight was to comeoff. 

'We've settled it now, ' answered Warren. 

'Bosh! Don't believe it, boys. They are just going off to have it outby themselves. '

'You're not going to let Warren off, are you, Taylor?' shouted anotherlad, as Taylor appeared. 

'Shut up and mind your own business, and leave Warren and me to settleour own affairs in our own way!' And having said this, he pushed hisway through the crowd and marched straight into school. 

CHAPTER VI. 

FOR THE HONOUR OF THE SCHOOL. 

'How is your friend Warren to-day, Len?' asked Mr. Morrison, on theday when the boys thought the adjourned fight ought to have come off. 

'Warren's no friend of mine now, he's an awful sneak!' said Leonard, angrily. He was greatly mystified over the fight not taking place, forhe intended to support Taylor, and at least do part of the cheering onhis side; and the collapse of the whole affair annoyed him, and hechose to consider it was Warren's fault. 'He just funked it you know, dad, ' he said, when he explained the matter to his father. 

'I don't know so much about that, ' said Mr. Morrison; 'I met hisfather yesterday, and he told me he had forbidden his son to engage ina fight, either now or at any future time, and I asked him if hethought his son would obey him. '

'"Yes, I do!" he said, and seemed quite confident that his boy wouldrespect his wishes, and I wondered whether he was right. So Warrenjunior refused to fight, did he?' said Mr. Morrison. 'It was a pluckything to do, and I like a boy who can say "No, " and stick to it. '

'The fellows are saying it was beastly mean of him, and he funked itbecause Taylor is a bigger fellow. '

'Ah! boys often jump to wrong conclusions. It isn't the only pluckything Warren has done. Have you joined the swatting club yet, my boy?'

'What did you say, father?' asked Leonard, with widely opened eyes. 

'The formation of a swatting club is the last new move, I hear, atTorrington's. To swat is to study, I understand--is that right?'

'Oh yes, the word is right enough; but who told you about it?'

'Is it a secret, then? Didn't you know about it--haven't you beenasked to join it?'

'No! they wouldn't ask me; it isn't likely; for all the school knowthat I am trying to keep up the honour of Torrington's--keep it fromgoing to the dogs, in fact, ' said the boy, loftily, but with an angrytone in his voice. 

'I am glad to hear it, Len. I was a Torrington boy in my time, and Ilove the old school still. '

'Then, father, what did you send that beastly scholarship boy therefor?' burst out Leonard, scarcely knowing what he said in his anger. 

'Leonard! Leonard!' chided his mother. 

'I beg your pardon, mother, but it is what the fellows are alwayssaying, and I forgot. '

'But why should the boys be vexed that the County Council chose tosend one of the most promising of their scholars to that school? Hashe done anything to offend you?'

'We don't give him the chance, and we want you, father, to take himaway at once. Don't you see the honour of the school is at stake, andthe fellows like Curtis and Taylor----'

The doctor held up his hand to stop the boy's angry flow of words. 'Wewon't discuss those gentlemen, if you please, ' he said. 

'But they are always discussing it, ' exclaimed Leonard. 

'Very foolish of them, ' interrupted Mr. Morrison. 'But now tell mewhat you mean by the honour of the school, and why this lad hasendangered it. '

'He comes from a board school, which, of course, is intended for poor, common people, ' answered the boy. 

'But "poor, common people" must be taught, you know; and now, if theypossess the brains, they have the right to learn to use them as wellas those who are better off. From Dr. Mason's report to the Council, this lad has given every satisfaction while he has been at the school, and I had hoped that you would have made his acquaintance by thistime, and that I might have learned a little more about him from yourpoint of view. '

Leonard shook his head. 'You must go to Warren for that; he has chosento take him up in defiance of the whole school, and--and----' hestopped, dimly conscious that in his anger he had already said toomuch. Mr. Morrison was called away from the table at this point, andLeonard felt relieved that no further questions could be asked. 

Later he went to the little room where lessons were learned, and foundhis sister sitting in her usual place. 'Mother wished me to come, Len, ' she said, in explanation of her presence. 

'All right, Duffy--not that you are such a duffer, ' he added, 'and Ishall try to find another name for you. '

'Oh, Duffy will do. Don't waste your time thinking about another namefor me. What's in a name after all? It's what you are, not what nameyou are called by. I say, what is this swatting club father has heardabout? You never told me about it. '

'Never heard of it myself before. Won't Taylor be mad when I tell him, for if there is one thing he hates it is swat! He says it's low andvulgar, and not fit for a school like Torrington's. '

'But you know father doesn't think that, and I am sure you ought toknow that father is wiser than Taylor, if he is the biggest boy in theschool. '

'As if that made any difference! You're just as much of a duffer asever, to think such a thing, ' he added. 

'Well, what is it about Taylor that makes you call him the "cock ofthe walk?" I met him at a party last week, and I did not think much ofhim, I can tell you. '

'Ah! that's because you are a girl, and don't know anything. Taylor isa jolly fellow. '

'Well, I'm glad he's not my brother, for he is not very kind to hissister, and he was quite rude to his mother. He is no gentleman, andso he has no right to find fault with father because he sent a boardschool boy to sit with him at Torrington's. '

Leonard only laughed at his sister's denunciation of his hero; but hewas curious to learn what had been said about this swattingclub--whether she had heard it spoken of before to-day. 'I should liketo know how long they have been at it, and who are in it, ' he said. 

'Father said Warren and the scholarship boy; he was telling motherabout it when you came in. '

'Oh, that scholarship boy is at the bottom of the whole mischief, ofcourse, ' said Leonard; 'but I should like to know how many more are init; it's no good going to Taylor with half a tale. Won't he be mad, when he hears of this last move! Warren is forbidden to fight, too! Iwonder why that is? Something wrong with his head, I shouldn'twonder, ' added Leonard, after a minute's thought. 

'Why, what makes you think that?' asked Florence. 

'Because when Taylor knocked him down the other day he lay still asthough he were dead for a minute or two, and never turned up at schoolall the next day. What larks if he can't fight! I'll put Taylor on tothat, and see what he can make of it. '

'Len, how can you like to do such mean things? I wish father had nottold you about it; but, of course, he never thought you were going topeach to the rest of the school about it, and especially to thatvulgar thing Taylor. '

'Now, Duffy, that "vulgar thing" is your brother's chosen friend, soof course you don't like him, for I've noticed lately that if I likeanything or anybody, you take a dislike to them directly. '

'Yes, because the things and the people you like are never nice. Mother was saying the other day she hoped you would not grow up likesomebody she knew. I did not hear his name, but she sighed as she saidit, and father did not smile or say anything when he heard her sayit. '

'Look here, Duffy, you need not talk about those sort of things; Ishall grow up all right, never fear. What I want to know is who are inthe swatting lot besides Warren and the scholarship boy? Find that outfor me, will you?'

'No, indeed, I will not, unless you promise to join them, and I don'tbelieve you mean to do that, although you know father would like it. '

'I wonder whether he joined a swatting club when he went toTorrington's?' rejoined Leonard. 

'I will ask him when he comes home, ' replied his sister. 'Now I mustbegin my lessons; I have done them better lately, my governess says, and if I only work steadily on, I shall get a prize at Christmas. 

Her brother whistled. 'Half-a-crown book for six months' work. Thatgame don't pay except for duffers, ' he said in a tone of contempt. 

'I would rather be a duffer than some people who think themselves soclever. Now don't hinder me, but get on with your own lessons, and letme learn mine, ' said his sister. 

'Swat! swat! swat! with fingers and brain and pen, ' sung her brother, while Florence propped her head on her hands and stared at her book. Then the door opened, and Mrs. Morrison appeared. 

'Lenny, I want to have a little talk with you. Playing again, my boy;I knew some one else who chose to play a great deal of his time awayat school, but he has bitterly repented it since. Perhaps you hadbetter take your books up to your own room, dear, ' she said, turningto Florence; 'I thought you might help each other if you did themtogether again, but when I heard Lenny singing I knew it was no good. '

Mrs. Morrison said that while Florence was gathering up her books, andwhen she had gone upstairs, she took her seat facing Leonard and had along talk with him. She told him what his father had heard concerningone portion of the school; that it was becoming almost lawless in itsdetermination not to learn more than the masters could force uponthem. 'He told you too that he heard to-day of a few boys who hadseparated themselves from this party, and were determined to profit bythe instruction given, and learn the home lessons to the best of theirability. '

Mrs. Morrison saw Leonard's lip curl as she spoke in admiration ofthese lads. 'They're just a set of cads!' he muttered under hisbreath. 

'No, they are not; and it is your father's wish, and mine too, thatyou should join this section of the school, and learn your homelessons as well as you possibly can. We do all we can to help you, andFlorence is quite willing to come back and do her lessons here, if youdo not hinder her. Now will you promise me, Lenny, to turn over a newleaf, and set your mind steadily to the tasks that may be set for you, instead of wasting your time in play as you have done lately?'

'I don't mind doing my lessons, ' grunted Leonard ungraciously, 'but Idon't see why father should want me to join that scholarship lot atschool. '

'He wishes it because they are a steady set of lads, and you areeasily led into mischief by your companions. '

'What mischief have I done?' angrily demanded the boy. 

'Well, I don't know that there has been any particular mischief, 'admitted his mother; 'but your father is not very satisfied with theway things have been going on at school lately. You know the lastreport was far from satisfactory, and your father said you were justwasting your time, instead of learning all you could. Now promise me, dear, that you will make a new beginning. '

Leonard stared at his book and drummed on the table in silence, andMrs. Morrison, feeling that she had said enough for once, rose andleft the room. She hoped that Leonard would think over what she hadsaid and act upon it, although he had not given the promise that sheasked. 

She went back to the drawing-room and sat down to think, and herthoughts wandered to that brother whom her son so strangely resembled;and she prayed that God would save her boy from wrecking his life andbringing misery to his friends, as this beloved brother had done. 

Now Leonard chose to be half offended over what his mother had said tohim. 'Mother wants me to be like a duffing girl, ' he whispered tohimself as she left the room. 'I wonder who it is she was telling meabout. Somebody who has got himself into a nice scrape, and beenobliged to leave England. It was a nice thing to be told I was likethis scapegrace, ' he muttered. But, in spite of his anger, he didmanage to learn something of his lessons that night before he went tobed; and he might have got on fairly well in class, if he had not metTaylor early in his walk to school. Taylor was brimming over with theimportance of a piece of news he had heard. 

'What do you think, Morrison? There are a lot of sneaks in the schoolwho have set up a swatting club without saying a word to us about it!'

'Yes, I know; my pater has heard of it, and wants me to join it. '

'You'll never do it, Morrison!' exclaimed the elder lad. 

'Not if I know it. What do you take me for? Isn't it enough to beworried by the masters? No, thank you; I'm going to stick to myfriends. '

'Yes, and you must fight with them too, unless you want to seeTorrington's ruined as a school for gentlemen. That's what my patersays, and I guess he knows as much as most. He has made his pile;means I shall be a gentleman, and that is all he cares for. Lessons beblowed! They're all very well for scholarship boys and such cads. Yourfather ought to be ashamed of himself ever to have sent that boardschool boy among gentlemen, and the beggar will have to go!'

Leonard did not reply, for he did not like to hear any action of hisfather blamed, and so he walked along in silence, while Taylor pouredout further angry denunciations until the school was reached. 

During the course of the class lessons that morning it became veryevident that there was a dividing line between those who had carefullystudied their subjects and the rest of the class. Warren, Howard, andseven or eight other lads held the top part of the class in allsubjects, and Taylor, Morrison, and the rest of that part keptsteadily at the bottom. 

'I've had enough of this, ' said Taylor when they came into theplayground after dinner. 'That scholarship boy is at the bottom of thewhole thing, and we must get rid of him. '

'You've said that before, ' grumbled Curtis. 

'Yes, I know I have, and I hoped Morrison would persuade his pater todo the job for us, as he brought him in; but it don't seem as thoughhe was going to move in the matter, and so _I_ shall, and littleMorrison must help me. '

'But what are you going to do?' asked Leonard. 

'That's my business. All you've got to do is what I tell you, and toask no questions. '

Curtis lifted his sleepy eyes and looked at Taylor with a little moreinterest. 

'What is it to be?' he asked. 

'Well, I mean to stink him out; it will all be done up in thestinkery. '

'The stinkery'--or stink-room, to give it its proper title--was a smallslip-room divided from the laboratory by a close wooden partition withseveral ventilating shafts, under which noisome-smelling chemicals could beused without causing any annoyance to the students working in the generallaboratory. 

'That scholarship boy shall have enough of his precious slops. I'lllet Skeats know whether he shall favour a fellow because the rest ofus have sent him to Coventry!'

'Why, what has Skeats done?' asked one of the lads; for the sciencemaster was a favourite among most of the boys. 

'Can't you see what he's doing every day? That sneak from the boardschool pretends to have "an idea, " whatever that may be, and goestalking to old Skeats about it, and so he lets him go up to the "lab. "every dinner-time to work at it. Don't you see the little game? Wecan't make him feel he is in Coventry, if he is taken out of our way. But I am going to upset this family party, and I mean little Morrisonshall help me. It's only fair, as his father brought the fellow here, that he should be used to get rid of him. '

'What do you want me to do?' asked Leonard, turning pale, andheartily wishing himself out of the way. 

'Why, you shall get the stuff we want. Your father is a doctor, and soit will be easy enough. '

'But the pater does not keep a store of chemicals, ' said Leonard. 

'Who said he did? I said he was a doctor, and I suppose you can't denythat, can you?'

Leonard looked offended, and was turning away, but Taylor soon fetchedhim back. 'Look here, little Morrison, it's no good funking. You cando this job better than anybody else, and you've got to do it. I don'twant you to steal your father's stuff, but you must get two of hisbottles, and go to get what I shall tell you, and if the people at thedrug store ask you whether it is for your father, why, of course youmust say, "Yes. " Now mind, mum must be the word, for I'm not going totell all the crowd what I'm going to do. Curtis is going to find halfthe money, and I'll find the other half. Here's half a sovereign. Idon't know what the things will cost, any more than the man in themoon, but I shall want the things I have put down in this paper; andtell them to fasten them down tight, so that they don't leak out; foryou'll have to keep 'em in your bag till I can use 'em to-morrow. '

'Must I get them to-night?' asked Leonard, wishing he could tellTaylor he would not do it. 

'Yes, you _must_!' answered the 'cock of the walk' in a masterfultone. 'Now, mind you don't lose the money, and be sure you bring theright chemicals. '

CHAPTER VII. 

NEWS FOR MRS. MORRISON. 

'Oh dear, how late you are for luncheon! it always happens so, if Iwant you to come home early!'

'Can't help it, my dear, ' said Dr. Morrison, as he began to take offhis coat. 

But his wife was too impatient to let him do it this time. 'Come inhere while they put luncheon on the table, ' she said, and she drew himinto the little room. 'I have had a letter. Guess who it is from. '

But Dr. Morrison shook his head. 'I am too hungry to guess anything, 'he said. 'Is it from the man in the moon?'

'Almost as wonderful, ' said the lady. 'It is from Dick, dear old Dick!I feel ready to jump for joy. '

The doctor stood still and looked at his wife in blank amazement. 'From Dick? your brother Dick?' he said at last. 

'Oh dear, don't speak like that, as though the poor fellow had everdone anything wicked! I have heard you say many times that he wasonly weak, not wicked. '

'Yes, yes, I know he is only weak; only too ready to say "Yes, " and beled into mischief, when he ought to say "No, " and stand to it. Thinkwhat his easy-going ways have cost us. '

'No, no, I can't think of that now, ' interrupted the lady. 'I can onlyremember that he is my only brother, and I want you to take me to himat once. I have not seen him for five years, ' she added, 'and he begsthat you will go to him at once, because he has a friend with him whoneeds your attention at once. He says he met with him out in the wildsof Australia, and he has been the best friend he ever had--that thisMr. Howard has saved him body and soul. But he has fallen ill, throughdisappointment at not receiving a letter from his wife as soon as helanded. That he has not heard from her for years, because he had toleave England in a hurry, a great many years ago. '

'Why, that might be written of Dick himself, ' said the doctor, with asmile. '"Birds of a feather, " you know the old proverb!'

'Oh, but Dick must have altered, I am sure, for he says that he andMr. Howard have both worked very hard, and made a moderate fortune, orthey would not have come home to England again. That is not like theold Dick, is it?'

'No, my dear, for he generally let other people do the hard work, while he dreamed of what he would like to do. But now let me see thisletter. '

'Luncheon is served, ma'am, ' said the housemaid, tapping at the doorat this moment. 

The doctor and his wife were to have the meal alone to-day, and so theservant's service was dispensed with, that they might discuss thiswonderful letter, for wonderful it was, even the doctor had toconfess, when he had read it. 

There was far more about his friend, whose wife and family he wasanxious to find, than there was about the writer himself; but the mostinteresting piece of information was in the postscript. 

'My friend has just heard that his wife went to live in theneighbourhood of your town. Can you make inquiries? She has two sons, Frederick and Horace. The latter would be about thirteen, I think. '

The doctor dropped the letter and gazed at his wife. 'I wonder whetherit is the father of that scholarship boy!' he almost gasped. 

'What scholarship boy?' asked Mrs. Morrison impatiently. 

'Why, the one that was sent from the board school to Torrington's. His father was entered as a traveller, I believe, and he was said tobe abroad. My dear, put your things on, and we will drive round andsee this Mrs. Howard. She lives at that old-fashioned cottage justoutside the town. '

'Oh, but I want to go and see Dick!' said the lady. 

'And we will go, if possible; but I shall have to see Warren first, and we must do as Dick wishes, and inquire for his friend's wifebefore we go. '

Dr. Morrison was not a man to let the grass grow under his feet, andso the carriage was ordered at once, and in half an hour they were ontheir way to the cottage. 

A very few words convinced the doctor that he had found the lady hewas seeking; and when she had read all that was said about her husbandshe readily agreed to go with the doctor and Mrs. Morrison to London. While the doctor went to his friend Warren, she wrote a letterexplaining something of what had happened, and that she was going withDr. Morrison to London. This she sent by a messenger to Fred at hiswork, asking him to tell Horace something of what had occurred, andalso to meet his brother when he came home to tea. 

Fred was not a little puzzled when he received this letter, but heasked to be allowed to leave a little earlier, and so managed toreach home just as Horace appeared at the bend of the lane. 

'I tried to get here before you, but you were too quick for me, ' hesaid, when his brother rushed in at the garden gate. 

'Where's mother?' asked Horace, when he saw Fred take the street-doorkey from his pocket. 

'Come indoors, and I'll tell you all I know. Let me light the firefirst, ' he added. Fred had learned to be very handy about the house, and he soon had the fire blazing under the kettle; and while it boiledhe told Horace that a letter had been sent to him early in theafternoon from his mother, saying that she had just received news ofhis father, who was ill in London. 'Dr. Morrison came and told her allabout it, and he has gone to London with her. '

'Dr. Morrison!' repeated Horace. 'Why, Morrison is in my class atschool; and the doctor is his father, I know. '

'What sort of a fellow is young Morrison?' asked Fred. He was handingcups and saucers to Horace, who was setting them ready for tea. 

'Oh, Morrison is all right, ' said Horace, who was clattering the cupsand saucers; for he did not want to discuss his school troubles withhis brother. 'I don't see much of him, because he likes to go withthe bigger boys. I say, Fred, do you remember our father?' saidHorace; 'he's been gone away such a long time. We used to have a nicehouse and servants when he stayed at home with us, didn't we?'

'Then you remember him, Horry?' said Fred. 

But Horace shook his head. 'No, I don't remember a bit about him, onlythat we had a nice house a long time ago. '

'Well, I only remember a little, ' said Fred. 'But I know he was a tallgentleman, and I think he was a doctor. He went away to travel, I haveheard mother say, and she thought he must be dead until Dr. Morrisoncame this afternoon. I have brought home some sausages, ' announcedFred, who wanted to change the conversation. 

He knew so little and remembered so little about his father and thoseformer days; but as he had grown older he had grown angry that hisfather should leave his mother as he had, without cause--so far asFred knew--and without explanation, he had heard, and simply goneabroad to travel, leaving them to battle with poverty as they could. 

As time went on he had spoken less and less of his father, but he hadbecome certain that there must have been some cause for his father'sdisappearance, though his mother might not know it; but in his ownmind there was a lurking fear that some disgrace might lie hiddenbelow the long silence. And so, as soon as tea was over, he said--

'I am going out to get some things for breakfast. '

So Horace was left to the comfort of his books and the study of hislessons. 

When Leonard reached home that same afternoon, Florence met him withthe information that father and mother had both gone out, and Mary thehousemaid did not know what time they would be home. 

'Where have they gone?' asked Leonard, for it was a rare occurrencefor both to be away at the same time. 

Florence shook her head. 'Mary says that James was sent with a letterto Mr. Warren, and so I should think father had asked him to lookafter some of his patients. '

'Very likely, ' answered her brother; and then he took his satchel tothe little room where lessons were studied and sat down to think. 

He did not know whether he was glad or sorry to hear that his fatherhad gone out. As he came along he had made up his mind that it wouldbe impossible to get bottles from his father's dispensing-room, for hewas never allowed to go there, and it was just possible that hisfather had locked the door before going out, in which case he couldtell Taylor that it was impossible to get the chemicals for him, andthere would be an end of it. 

But, although he said this, he knew there would not be an end of it, and if he refused at last to get what was wanted, he would be sent toCoventry, at least by those whose society he desired. 

So after washing his hands before going to tea he went to thedispensing-room, to find out whether the door could be opened, andfound that it yielded at once. He went in and closed the door, lestone of the servants should come that way and see him, when they wouldbe sure to remind him that he was not allowed to go there. 

After closing the door he looked round to see what he could find, andthere by the sink was a row of glass-stoppered bottles, evidentlyfilled with water for washing them. He selected two that he thoughtwould hold about half a pint each, and pouring out the water he tookthem to the study and hid them in a corner out of sight, in caseFlorence should decide to do her lessons with him this evening. 

But it seemed as though everything was to favour him in what he knewwas wrong-doing. His sister told him at tea-time that she must do herlessons in her own room, for she had an extra piece of history tostudy, as she was working for the history prize to be given atChristmas. 

'Oh, all right, ' said Leonard, with his mouth full of bread and jam. 'It's all a girl can do, I suppose, get a prize now and then. '

'You can't do that if you are a boy!' retorted Florence; and thenthere was a little more sparring and wrangling, until the housemaidappeared to clear the table. Florence went upstairs to her lessonthen, and Leonard sauntered off to the little study and lighted thegas, for it was getting dusk. 

When the gas was lighted he went to look at his bottles, and then sawin the corner, near where he had hidden them, an old leather bag ofhis father's. He remembered now that he had been told he might have itfor his books when the satchel was worn out; and he decided to take itat once. 'This is good fortune indeed! Taylor says he'll take carenobody finds out, if I only get the stuff there. Taylor is a smartfellow, and so is his father, or he could not have made a big fortunein a year or two, as Taylor says he did. My dad won't make one in alife-time, I'm afraid, and I shall just have to go plodding on at hardwork, unless I can learn a thing or two from Taylor by-and-by. '

While he had been speaking to himself he had been wrapping each bottleup separately in a piece of old newspaper and putting them into thebag. Then he took the written paper given him by Taylor and thehalf-sovereign, and decided to go at once and get his bottles filled. He must tell the chemist to seal the stoppers down securely, or therewould be such a smell from the bag that it would betray them before itcould be got into 'the stinkery' at school. He put a book in the bagas well as the bottles, so that if his sister should discover that hehad been out, he could say he had been to borrow a book from one ofhis schoolfellows. 

He went out by the back gate, for he did not want anyone to know hewas going if he could help it, and Florence might hear him shut thefront door. He knew where to go, and as he brought his father'sprivate bottles and half-a-sovereign to pay for what he had, thechemist served him without demur. He wondered a little what the doctorcould want the chemicals for, but reflected that as Leonard was oldenough to sign his poison-book in the regular way, and as Mr. Morrisonwas a well-known practitioner in the town, there could be no harm donein letting him have what he wanted. 

So Leonard walked home in triumph with the bottles securely wrapped upin the bag. On his way back he met Taylor walking arm-in-arm withCurtis, and both smoking cigarettes. 

'Hullo, little Morrison!' he said in a patronising tone, as Leonardstopped them, for they would have passed without noticing him. 

'This is a piece of luck!' exclaimed the boy. 'You can take the bagnow, Taylor. The bottles and stuff are in it safe enough. '

'What bottles? What stuff?' he said, stepping back a pace, as if theproffered bag would bite him. 

'You know what it is, ' said Leonard in a tone of surprise. 

'Oh no, I don't! I know nothing until you bring me the stuff I toldyou about. Ta-ta! little Morrison. Don't forget the bag in themorning;' and the 'cock of the walk' and his friend went on their waylaughing, leaving the boy transfixed with anger and amazement. Hisfirst thought was that he would go and throw the bottles in the canaljust as they were, give Taylor the change out of the half-sovereign, and tell him where he would find the bottles if he wanted them. Hewent so far as to walk down the canal road, but his courage evaporatedbefore he had gone any distance, and although he was still very angryover the treatment he had received from his chosen friend, he turnedhis steps homeward, still carrying the bottles, but half decided thathe would not take them to Taylor in the morning. 

As he was going in at the back gate one of the servants met him. 

'Dear me, Mr. Leonard! how you made me jump! There's a telegram comefor you, and Miss Florence has been hunting all over the house to findyou, for the boy said he was to wait for an answer. '

The importance of having a telegram sent to him soothed Leonard'sruffled feelings, and he hurried in to find his sister and learn whatthe message could be. 'Mother and I cannot come home to-night--comingto-morrow. ' This was what the mysterious yellow envelope contained byway of a message, and Leonard read it with Florence looking over hisshoulder. 

'There's no answer to go back, ' said Leonard, when he saw Mary lookingat him. 'Go and tell the boy Father has just sent to say that he isnot coming home to-night;' and then he went and carried the bag to thelittle room, leaving Florence to read the telegram over for her ownsatisfaction--as if that would give her any more information. 

She followed her brother to the study and said, 'Where do you thinkthey have gone, Len?'

'How can I tell? I never heard of a rich uncle, did you?'

His sister shook her head. 'Daddy was an only son, I know, ' she said. 'But I think mother had a brother. '

'Was he a millionaire?' asked Leonard. 

'He was a doctor, which is quite as good, I am sure, for that is----'

'Flo, you're a duffer, ' interrupted her brother. 'There's nothing likemillionaires in these days, and so I hope this uncle, whoever he maybe, has made his pile, and will leave it all to us. '

'But you don't know it is an uncle they have gone to see. Father hadfriends in London, and this telegram came from Westminster, and I knowthat is in London. '

'Well, we shall hear all about it when they come, I dare say. Now runaway, little girl, for I want to get on with my lessons, now I havegot the book I wanted. '

'Oh, that was what you wanted! You boys are so careless. It is a goodjob you can borrow of each other;' and Florence went away, leavingLeonard to do his lessons or reflect upon the strange events of theevening. 

After a few angry thoughts concerning Taylor and his behaviour towardshim that evening, he began wondering once more whether it was an unclehis parents had gone to see, and then whether he was rich, and wouldmake them wealthy too. He had never thought so much of money and whatit could do for its possessor until lately, but Taylor and Curtis bothbelonged to wealthy families, and he thought of what they could do. Hecalled to mind the half-sovereign and the cigarettes he had seen themsmoking, and he had no doubt they were going to a famous billiard-roomin the town. Billiards, cigars, and half-sovereigns made up anentrancing picture to the boy, and he sat and dreamed of these things, and wished he had plenty of money, until half the evening was gone;and although he declined to go to bed at the usual hour, he only halfknew his lessons when he did go. 

The next morning he started for school in good time, for fear heshould miss Taylor, and be compelled to have those bottles on his mindall the morning. But Taylor was looking out for him at the corner ofthe road where they usually met. He was in a different mood thismorning, and flattered and praised the lad for having got thechemicals without anyone finding out what he had done. 

'You carry the bag to the gate, and I'll take it of you there, and noone will ever see those bottles again, I can promise you. '

'But how are you going to manage?' asked Leonard. 

'Oh, I have made my plans! I have to work in "the stinkery" thismorning, so the thing will be easy enough when I have once got yourbottles up in the "lab. , " and they'll go in my pockets for me to takethem up there. Oh, never fear! we shall get rid of that board schoolbeggar this time, for Skeats is awfully particular about his stuff, and he'll never forgive him for using chemicals like these away from"the stinkery. " I know where to put them till I want them, so you cangive them to me in a minute, and I will put them into the pockets ofthis dust-coat I am carrying; I brought it with me on purpose. '

Leonard breathed a sigh of relief when the bottles were safelytransferred from the bag to the inside pockets of the fashionablecoat. 

'If the stopper should come out of that bottle of sulphuric acid, yourcoat won't be worth much, ' he said, as Taylor swung the coat over hisarm. 

'The stoppers are all right, I can see, ' he said; but still he carriedthe coat carefully, and went at once to hang it up when he got to theschool. 

The laboratory had been built at a later date than the main body ofthe school, and was reached by a flight of steps from the playground. The room below it was used for coats and hats and other impedimentathe boys might bring with them, each boy having his own peg and placeon the shelf for bag or lunch basket. They passed through this room ontheir way to the laboratory, and so it would be easy for Taylor totake down his coat, and carry it up with him when he went for hispractical chemistry lesson, and he did this without any notice beingaroused among the other boys. 

At twelve o'clock, when school was over, the science master went tothe playground to look for Howard, who was eating his sandwiches as hewalked up and down. 'You won't be long before you go up to thelaboratory, I suppose, Howard?' he said, when he saw the lad. 

'No, sir, I'm going in a minute, ' said the boy. 

'I have left three boys there finishing their work. Just see theyleave their things all right, when you go in. '

Horace frequently performed such small services for the sciencemaster, and readily promised to do this. But just as Mr. Skeats turnedaway, Warren came up, and the two stood talking for two or threeminutes before Howard went to the laboratory. He ran up the steps, andwas surprised to find the door closed, but not locked, as boys usuallylocked it when they were left to do some work after school hours. When he opened the door, he was struck by the peculiar smell ofalmonds that pervaded the place. He closed the door, but did not lockit. 'I say, what have you fellows been using?' he said, as he went tothe further end of the room. There lay one boy stretched out on thefloor near a bench, and close to another lay a second. He tried torouse the one nearest to him, and then seized him by the legs anddragged him across the room out on to the landing. There he shouted'Help! help!' and ran back to pull out the others, for he knew thedeadly nature of that almond-like smell. He managed to get another tothe door, where he would get fresh air, and then returned for thethird. He found him lying near 'the stinkery, ' and thought he wouldopen that door, for the better ventilation of the outer room; but ashe passed his own bench, which stood near, he was overpowered by thefumes pouring out of a flask standing there, from which acid also wasboiling over on to the bench and floor. He reeled, and before he couldreach the door fell insensible to the ground, one hand fallinghelplessly into the pool of burning liquid there. But by this time thefresh air had revived the first boy he had dragged out, and he calledto a lad in the playground. 

'What's the row?' said Warren--for it happened to be that younggentleman. 'Oh, what a stink!' he said the next minute, and puttinghis head in, he saw Howard and the other lad lying on the floor at thefurther end of the room. He knew that the fumes were dangerous, andstuffing his pocket-handkerchief into his mouth and up his nostrils, he dashed in and tried to drag both boys at once to the door, but hadto drop one just as Mr. Skeats rushed up. He picked up Horace, andcarried him down, and then sent for the head master and other lads tocarry out those who, although somewhat revived, were still lying onthe landing at the top of the steps. 

'You must have a doctor, sir, ' said Warren, pushing his way throughthe crowd of boys who had gathered round to know what was the matter. 

'Yes, yes, ' said the master; and Warren rushed off to the gate and ranhastily down the road. He knew his father was often in theneighbourhood about that time of the day, and, to his great joy, hesaw him driving in his gig. The boy ran and shouted, and speedilyattracted the doctor's attention when his son shouted, 'Somethingwrong in the "lab!"'

He ran into the playground, and there half-a-dozen voices called, 'They have carried them all to the master's house. '

Here he found two of the boys well-nigh recovered, but the third onewas still unconscious, and Horace seemed even worse. His hand and armswere badly burned with the acid, and there were splashes of it on hisface. 

The masters were doing what they could to get the deadly poison out ofhis lungs, but it seemed as though Horace and the third lad hadinhaled so much of the gas that all their efforts were in vain. Thedoctor looked grave when Mr. Skeats told him the boys had beenbreathing hydro-cyanic acid gas. The application of artificialrespiration was redoubled, but it was not until nearly four o'clockthat Horace began to revive, and what Leonard felt during those awfulhours of suspense could be better imagined than described! Thelaboratory had been locked up, as soon as it was known what hadhappened, so that the affair might be inquired into. No boy wasallowed to go home either, although Taylor had complained of beingvery ill, and had wanted to leave early. 

Not until it was known that Horace was out of all immediate danger wasthere a word spoken, and then Dr. Mason said, 'I am ready to hear anyexplanation that you may wish to give me as to the cause of what hashappened. I have heard all about the attendant circumstances and therescue of these lads. What I want to know is, who caused thedisaster?'

Not a sound broke the silence of the school when the doctor had saidthis. Leonard was ready to tell of his share in the affair, but as heglanced at Taylor he received such a look of warning as made him cowerin his seat, and the school broke up wondering what would happennext. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

RIGHTEOUS RETRIBUTION. 

Warren volunteered the information that Howard's mother had gone awayfrom home, and only his elder brother could take care of him, if hewas sent there, so that it was decided that he should remain in themaster's house for the present; and Warren went to let Fred know thathis brother would not be home all night. 

'Why, what is the matter?' asked the young carpenter anxiously. 

'There was something wrong in the "lab. " this dinner-time. Nobodyknows just how it happened, but there'll be a jolly row about itto-morrow, I know. '

'I hope Horace had nothing to do with it, ' said Fred. 

'Oh, didn't he, though! Three boys would soon have been dead if hehadn't gone in. That's how he got hurt. You can go and see him, myfather says, only you mustn't talk much. '

Fred was not long getting his tea; he was too anxious to go and hearmore of what had happened to his brother, but he took care to washhimself and change his working clothes before presenting himself atthe master's house. 

He found Horace in bed, with both hands bandaged and looking verypale. He was able to tell him what had happened, but begged him not tosay a word about it to his mother, as he felt sure he should be quitewell in the morning. Fred hardly knew what to do, but at length agreednot to say a word about it when he wrote to his mother. When he hadnearly reached his own home, he saw a boy waiting near the gate, andhe said, 'Are you Howard's brother?'

'Yes. Who are you?' asked Fred. 

'My name is Morrison, and I want to know if you think he will get wellagain. '

'I hope so. But why are you so anxious about it? Do you know how ithappened?'

Leonard nodded. 

'I know a bit, ' said the boy sheepishly, 'and I wondered whether I'dbetter tell my father. '

'Yes, yes--tell him by all means, ' said Fred eagerly. 'Come in aminute, and if you like I will go home with you and break the ice. I've always been in the habit of telling my mother when I got into ascrape; but it made it a bit easier if Horace told her somethingabout it first, so I know how you feel about telling your father. '

'We didn't mean to hurt the fellows, you know, ' said Leonard eagerly, as he went into the little sitting-room. 'We didn't mean to hurtanybody; only make a jolly stink in the "lab. , " and get somebody intoa row. '

He did not say who the 'somebody' was, and Fred did not ask him. Theywent away together, and walked almost in silence, for Fred did notlike to press the boy to tell him any more. It was a long walk roundto Leonard's home, but Fred did not mind; and if the doctor had gotback he might hear of his mother, and something of what had happenedsince she had been gone, for he had not had a letter from her, as hehad expected. 

When they got to the doctor's house, and Fred asked to see him, theservant said he had only just come home, and she was not sure that hecould see anybody. 

'I think he will see me, if you tell him that my name is Howard, ' saidFred. 'I have come to see him about my brother, who was hurt at schoolto-day. '

The doctor was certainly mystified as to the meaning of the last partof the message, but he was glad to see Fred, for he had promised hismother he would see him as soon as possible. 

The doctor rose from his seat and took Fred's hands as he entered theroom. 'I am very glad to see you. I have some wonderful news for you. I left your father a few hours ago. Your mother wished me to tell you. Do you remember your father?'

'Yes, sir, a little, ' answered Fred, quite forgetting what he actuallyhad come for. 

'You do remember him?' repeated the doctor. 

'I know he was a gentleman, ' said Fred, a little proudly. 

'Yes, he has proved himself a steadfast, God-fearing, humbleChristian. A true gentleman in these later years, ' said Mr. Morrison;'and I have promised him, and your mother too, that you shall hearsomething of what those years have been. '

'But I should like to know first why he went away and left us allalone, ' said Fred, with reddening brow. 'It was not fair to my mother, or to any of us, and I am not sure that I shall ever want to see himagain. ' And then the tears filled Fred's eyes. 

'Sit down, my lad, ' said the doctor; 'your father knew that you mustfeel angry at what has happened, and, to use his own words, he doesnot deserve anything else at your hands, but I was to tell his storyin as few words as possible, and leave the rest to you. 

'Some time before he went away he had a patient named Taylor. Heseems to have been a very fascinating sort of man, and your father wasnot a very strong one. Through this man he neglected his practice agreat deal--he was a doctor, you know--his friend always seemed tohave plenty of money, and they went about the country a good dealtogether enjoying themselves, doing no great harm, beyond your fatherneglecting his work and you at home. 

'This lasted for some time, and then one day his friend begged him, asa great favour, to sign his name to a bill. Of course, by doing thisyour father became responsible for the whole amount of the debt, ifhis friend should fail to repay it within the time named; but he hadsuch confidence in Mr. Taylor, and believed all he said about thewealth coming to him, that he signed it after a little persuasion, although it was for a very large amount of money. 

'He never told your mother of this transaction, because he knew shedisliked and mistrusted this Taylor. 

'A few days before this bill became due your father found to hisdismay that his friend had disappeared from his London house, and noone knew where he had gone. Still, your father said no word to yourmother of what had happened, but when he was served with the noticethat he must now pay the debt, he was seized with panic at thethought of the ruin he had brought upon himself and family, and, instead of bravely staying to do what he could to help those who weredependent upon him, he went out one morning, and took a passage toAustralia by a vessel that was just leaving the docks. 

'It must be said in excuse for him that just at the time there was agreat talk of the rapid fortunes that were being made in thegold-fields, and he had heard that Taylor had gone there to make hisfortune. 

'I need hardly tell you that he did not see his false friend again, although he heard of him more than once during his wanderings in thewilds of Australia. 

'He wrote one short letter, telling your mother he would come home assoon as he had made his fortune; and he resolved in his own mind notto do so until he had accomplished this, for only in this way hethought he could atone for the past and prove that he was worthy ofher confidence for the future. 

'But he found the task much harder than he had supposed, and insteadof making his fortune at the gold-fields he was robbed of the littlehe possessed, and was glad to get any sort of work that would providehim with a crust of bread. 

'Then he met with Mrs. Morrison's brother, who was not unlike himselfin many respects--easily led, weak to resist temptation--but in thehard school of affliction to which they had condemned themselves Godmet them, and showed them the folly and sin of which they had beenguilty; and they sought and found pardon through the Lord JesusChrist. Then, through the help of God's Holy Spirit, they began tostruggle against the temptations by which they were beset, and in thestruggle grew strong, strong enough to resist even the making ofillegal gains; and so the fortune that was to restore them to home andcountry was a long time in the making, and meanwhile they clung toeach other, and to God. '

'But my father might have written to us, ' said Fred, still a littlehardly. 

'They both wrote to their nearest friends in England. But you mustremember that your mother had left London, and I had left Liverpool, where I was living when my brother-in-law went away; so both letterswere returned, and the wanderers could only work on in faith and hopethat one day God would bring them to their dear ones again. '

Fred had listened with the greatest intentness to the doctor's story, and now he roused himself, remembering that the errand he had comeupon had not yet been mentioned. 'Thank you, Dr. Morrison, ' he said, 'for telling me this; but I cannot help thinking still that my fatherhas been very cruel to us, although he may not have intended it; butI came to see you about something else. You have a son who goes toschool with my brother; Horace has been hurt somehow, and is in bed atthe master's house. Your son wishes me to tell you that he knowssomething of what happened. He did not mean to hurt anybody, but threeboys might have died through what was done. '

'Ah, that is just it. Boys never intend wilfully to hurt each other, Ibelieve, and it is only rarely that men do so; but they do it through theirweakness and thoughtlessness, and bring untold misery upon friends, and allwho love them. Your father's spoiled life, and my brother-in-law's almostwasted one, should teach all you lads a lesson. Ask God to make you strongto resist the first temptation--strong in the strength of the Lord JesusChrist, for this alone can help you in the hour of trial. And remember thatthis time of trial must come to you sooner or later; and the sooner itcomes in life the better, if only you go to the Strong for strength tosustain you. '

Then the doctor rang the bell, and told the servant to send Leonard tohim. Fred rose to go, but the doctor told him to sit down again. 

'We'll get this business over while you are here, ' he said. And whenLeonard appeared, he said, 'My friend, Mr. Fred Howard, says you havesomething to tell me. Yes, he is my friend, and I trust that you willmake him yours also, if he will accept the friendship of a boy likeyou, ' said the doctor, answering the look of perplexity on Leonard'sface. 'This lad's father has saved your uncle's life more than once, it seems, while you have nearly killed his brother. Is that true?'

Leonard hung his head, and the tears slowly gathered in his eyes. 'DidMr. Warren tell you that, father?' he said with a gasp. 

'I have not seen Warren yet, ' said Dr. Morrison. 'What is it you haveto tell me? Do not be afraid, I want to hear all the truth from you. Now what is it you have to tell me, Len?' said the doctor, in a moretender tone. 'I hear you have got into some scrape at school, andsomebody has got hurt. '

'Yes, father; the scholarship boy, and I was afraid he might die. '

'Well, what was your share of the mischief? Did you really wish yourschoolfellow to die?'

'Father, we didn't mean to hurt him really. We only wanted to drivehim away from the school. ' And then, bit by bit, Mr. Morrison heardthe whole story of what had been going on at Torrington's for the lastfew months. 

Fred was as much astonished as Mr. Morrison. 'My brother never said aword about it at home, ' he said. 

'Your brother has the brave gallant spirit of a gentleman, ' said thedoctor. 'But what am I to say of my son and his cowardly companions?Go to your room, sir!' he said, addressing Leonard, for he was veryangry. 

'But, Mr. Morrison, that he should wish to come and tell you of itbefore it is known at the school who has done it, should not beforgotten, ' said Fred, pleadingly. 

'Certainly, certainly, it is something, as you say, ' answered Mr. Morrison; but in truth he felt overwhelmed just now. 

As Fred was leaving, a servant from Dr. Mason's arrived with a note, asking that Mr. Morrison would bring his son, and be at the school bynine o'clock. 

'Mason has found out all about it, I expect, ' he said, as he read thenote. He gave orders for his carriage to be ready by half-past eightthe following day, for he had a great deal to do before he started forLondon in the evening. 

He went to see Leonard in his own room before he went to bed, and thentold him something of his uncle's life, and why it was that he wishedto befriend Horace Howard. 

His father's talk made a deep impression on the boy's mind. 'Mammatold me something of this once but she did not say the "somebody" wasmy uncle. '

'My boy, she loved this brother as Florrie loves you, and how couldshe tell you all the miserable tale?'

'Oh, papa, I am so sorry! What can I do to make you believe that I domean to try and do right always for the future? I wish I could dosomething for that poor Horace. His hands are awfully bad, and hewon't be able to use them for ever so long. There's nobody to takecare of him at home either. Don't you think he might come here, papa?'

Dr. Morrison looked at Leonard, and breathed a sigh of relief. 'Myboy, could I trust you to be good to him if I fetched him hereto-morrow?'

'Yes, yes, papa; indeed I will try to make it up to him, if you willlet him come. I am so sorry. I did not know it was going to be so bad, until I heard Mr. Skeats say he wondered they were not dead. That waswhy I wanted to see Howard's brother. I knew he was the worst, and Iwanted them to know that I did not mean really to hurt him. '

'I can quite believe and sincerely hope that this will be a lesson youwill never forget through your whole life. But if I forgive you it ismore than you can expect Dr. Mason to do. I almost wonder he has notput it into the hands of the police, and had you all arrested. Thepunishment will be severe, I have no doubt; it ought to be, to make animpression upon the school; and remember, whatever it may be, I shallexpect you to bear it patiently and bravely. I forgive you, but Ishall not seek to lessen the punishment your schoolmaster may inflict. Now go to sleep as soon as you can, and I will take you to school inthe carriage with me in the morning. '

Dr. Morrison was compelled to pay a visit to a patient on his way tothe school the next day, so that when they arrived they found all theschool assembled in the hall. Prayers were just over, and when Leonardentered with his father, he was directed to take his place besideTaylor and Curtis, who were standing in front of the platform, whereDr. Mason and the other masters were sitting. His father was asked totake a seat there beside two other gentlemen, whom he afterwards heardwere Mr. Curtis and Mr. Taylor, who had come to hear what their sonswere charged with. 

'It might have been manslaughter, ' said Dr. Mason severely, when oneof the gentlemen asked this question rather angrily. 

'Last night, before we separated, I asked if anyone wanted to make astatement about this matter, ' said the master, addressing the school. 'No one answered then; now it is too late, and I can tell you myselfall that happened. When the chemistry class left the laboratoryyesterday morning, Mr. Skeats left three boys to finish what they weredoing, believing that they were the only lads there. Just after hehad gone they heard the stink-chamber door opened, and Taylor putsomething down on Howard's bench, which is close to that door. Theytook no notice of this at first, until the peculiar odour arrestedtheir attention. Then one of them went round to see what it was, butcoming in closer contact with the fumes was overcome by them, and felldown unconscious. Soon a second fell at his bench, and the third felljust as Howard opened the laboratory door and called to them. Nonewere able to answer; but he pulled two out on to the landing, and thenwent back for the third, but fell unconscious himself, close to hisown bench, and near the lad he was trying to save. Fortunately, hiscry for help was heard, and both lives were saved, I am thankful tosay, although Howard has been burned a great deal with the acid of thepoison. '

There was a dead silence throughout the school while the master wasspeaking. After a pause he said, 'I do not suppose that either Taylor, Curtis, or Morrison knew what their act would be likely to cause. I amsure they were ignorant of the danger they caused to three or four oftheir schoolfellows. But I do know that for some time past these boyshave been persecuting one of their companions; and this sort of thingshall never be allowed at this school. Therefore, to save this schoolfrom future disgrace and trouble, I am compelled to expel from theschool those who have been the ringleaders in this persecution. Taylor! Curtis! your names will be removed from the school roll, andnever again will you be admitted as scholars of Torrington's school. Morrison has been greatly to blame in the part he has taken in thisbusiness; but taking into consideration that he made a full confessionto his father last night of all he had done, added to the fact that heis a younger and weaker boy than the others, I shall suspend him fromattending this school for six months; and if at the end of that timehe can bring a certificate of good conduct from any other school, hemay possibly be reinstated at Torrington's. The honour of the schooldemands that these punishments should be strictly adhered to. ' Themaster sat down, and before a boy could leave his place Dr. Morrisonsprang to his feet. 

'Dr. Mason, I am an old Torrington boy, ' he said; 'and I thank youwith all my heart for defending the honour of the dear old school. Myson is one of the culprits, and I thank you in his name for giving himanother chance to retrieve his character. I shall send him for the sixmonths to one of the board schools in the town, where I hope and trusthe may earn the right to come among you once more, and bring nofurther disgrace upon Torrington's school. '

The other two gentlemen did not say a word. They were exceedinglyangry with the culprits, but could not complain that the master hadbeen unduly severe with them. Before they left, Dr. Mason said that hemust charge them with the cost of a new suit of clothes for Horace. 'Those he was wearing yesterday are burned into holes, so that thepoor lad has nothing to wear when he is able to get up, ' said Dr. Mason. 

'I will see to that, ' said Dr. Morrison. 

'I understand you are going to charge yourself with the care of thelad until he is well, ' said the master. 'I like justice all round, andit is only fair these gentlemen should buy the boy a new suit. Willyou leave me to order it?' he said, addressing the two. 

'Yes, yes, of course, and we will pay the bill, ' both answered in abreath. 

'Now, Morrison, you can go and tell the lad that he will soon havesome new clothes, for I understand that is the chief trouble with himthis morning--that he has spoiled his best jacket, and burned holes inhis trousers. Mrs. Mason will give you something to take him home in, and I think it will do both lads good to know more of each other. Thewisest thing you could do is what you have decided upon for Leonard, and I hope I shall see him back at Torrington's at the end of sixmonths. '

Mr. Morrison found Fred was with his brother, but he readily agreed tohis being taken home by the doctor. Horace himself did not know whatto make of it. Fred had just told him what he had heard from Dr. Morrison about his father, and now the doctor assured him that Leonardwas very anxious to make up to him for all the unkindness he had beenguilty of in the past. 

'For our father's sake you ought to give him this chance, ' said Fred, for he knew he could not give his brother the care he needed. 

'Thank you, doctor; I will go with you, ' said Horace. 

Just as he was being wrapped up Mr. Warren came in to see his patient, and was glad to learn that he was going home with Dr. Morrison. 

'You will let Warren come and see me, won't you?' said Horace. 

'Yes, yes, send him by all means; and I shall be glad if you can lookin upon him yourself to-morrow, for I am obliged to go to London thisevening, so that he must be left to the tender mercies of Len and theservants for a day or two. '

Horace was carried to the carriage where Leonard was seated, sheddinga few quiet tears over the folly that had gained for him thissuspension for the honour of the school. Still, he was thankful thathe was allowed a chance of return, and resolved to do all hecould--even in a board school--to earn the right to go back at the endof six months. He was glad enough to have Horace seated beside him, and the first words he said were, 'I hope you will forgive me for being such a fool. We must be friends, you know, and I hope to come back to Torrington's with you by-and by. '

'Yes, yes, we will be good friends if you like, ' said Horace, with thetears shining in his eyes. 'Only I don't know what my mother will saywhen she comes home. '

'Oh, that will be all right, ' answered Leonard. 'Your mother has goneto London with my mother. I dare say we shall know all about itpresently. But father is too busy now, for he is going to London againthis evening, and so I shall have to take care of you until he comesback. We'll ask Warren to come and see us as well, because I know youlike Warren. '

This last proposal cost Leonard the most, for he wanted Horace to likehim now. But it was a proof to Mr. Morrison that his son had learnedto conquer himself; and he had more hope for him now than he had sincehe first heard of this school scandal. 

The doctor had taken care to say as little as possible to the twoboys about the fortune Mr. Howard had made while he was away, and ithad made so little impression upon Horace, that when Mr. Morrison cameback from London the next day, and told him that his mother wanted himto go to the sea-side as soon as he was able to go, Horace looked athim in mute wonder. 

Could his mother afford to send him to the sea-side? he wondered, andhe resolved to ask Fred what he thought about it when he came. 

His brother came to sit with him for an hour every evening, and assoon as they were left to themselves that night Horace said, 'Have youheard that mother wants us to go to the sea-side--Leonard, and you andI? What does it mean, Fred? Has mother got money enough now to spendit like that?'

'I suppose she has, ' said Fred, with something like a sigh; 'but I amnot sure that it is going to make us any happier, Horry, ' he added. 

'Well, I suppose that will depend upon what we do with it, won't it?'said Horace simply. 

'Well, then I don't know that I shall let them spend any of it on me, 'said Fred, in an angry tone. 

'Then you won't let mother be happy, though she may have more money, and not have to work for it now. '

'Now, Horace, you know it is on mother's account that I feel as I do. It was unkind and cruel of father to go away and leave her as he didfor years and years, though he was making a fortune for us. I tell youthat money has been bought too dearly, and for mother's sake I don'tfeel as though I could touch a penny of it. '

'Oh, Fred! think how unhappy she will be if you say that to her. '

'I have said it, ' replied Fred bitterly. 'I wrote and told her that Ihoped she would leave me to be a carpenter, and live on in the littlecottage where she had worked so hard. '

'Oh, how could you--what did she say?' cried Horace, with the tearsshining in his eyes. 

Fred covered his face for a moment. 'She begged me to forgive myfather for her sake, as though it was not for her sake I feel as Ido. '

'Yes, yes, I know, ' said Horace. 'But you will have to do as she says, or else we shall all be so unhappy. Oh, Fred, for mother's sake, formy sake, forgive father! for why should I lose my brother because myfather has come home? I cannot help myself. I must let him help me, and if he did stay and work for this money just to prove that he wassorry for what he had done so long ago, I think we ought to forgivehim, as mother has. He is ill, too, through the hardships he had toendure. '

'Oh, Horry, if only he hadn't gone away like that! To have to forgiveyour father, instead of looking up to him as Len Morrison does, is sobitter; and it might all have been so different if only he had kept ondoing his duty and asking God to help him when things were a bitharder than usual. '

'Oh, Fred, ask God to help you now, to help you forgive him formother's sake, and for Jesus Christ's sake!' cried Horace, in apassion of tears. 

'I have, dear, I have! and I think I shall be able to do it soon; butI think God wanted me to see that making a fortune can't make up fornot doing the right thing at the right time; no, not even to thepeople you may make the fortune for. I shall have to let my fatherknow this before I can fully forgive him. '

It was a bitter lesson for the returned prodigals to learn, forLeonard Morrison took the same view concerning his uncle, havingmemories of days when his mother was too ill and too sad to be gladwith them; and he heard now from his father that this was generallycaused by some memory of the dearly loved brother who had fled fromthem under a cloud of disgrace. 

At length, however, Fred wrote and assured his mother that for hersake, and for his brother's, he would do as they wished, and jointhem at the sea-side, when Horace went for a holiday before returningto school. His hands were better, thanks to the kind attention hereceived from everyone at Dr. Morrison's. Indeed, he was such goodfriends now with Leonard, that he begged to be allowed to go to thesea-side with him, in order to make the acquaintance of his mother andhis father as well as of his own uncle, who was still staying withthem to help the invalid. 

Fred wrote this letter, and Mrs. Howard was greatly relieved toreceive it. To her it had been easy enough to receive and pardon herhusband for his long neglect, and she failed to understand why herelder son, who had always been so good to her, should assume such ahard, unforgiving demeanour towards his father. 

But when they met some weeks later she learned to understand the ladbetter; and when she told her husband he said, 'It is better. He isyoung, and has all his life before him, and he is right in thinkingthat no fortune can make up for wasted opportunities and neglectedduties. '

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