Part 26 (2/2)

”All right. Don't till I can help you, or you'll have everything carried off by the fellows,” observed Spiller. ”While you are looking to see who has got hold of a knife, or a saw, or a cake, or a boat, others will be carrying off a pot of jam, or a Dutch cheese, or some gingerbread, or a pot of anchovies, or a parcel of herrings, or--”

”Oh, there's no fear of that. I have not got half the things you speak of,” said Digby, rather inclined to laugh at the collection of valuables his box was supposed to contain.

”What have you got, then?” asked Spiller, point blank.

Digby, who had not suspected his new acquaintance's object in introducing the subject, was going to tell him, when Paul Newland came back to his desk.

Spiller did not see him. He started, and seemed very much annoyed when Paul put his hand on his shoulder, and said, quietly--

”Well, what do you find that he has got?”

Spiller looked big enough to keep in awe a dozen such little fellows as Paul Newland, but he seemed in no way inclined to pick a quarrel with him.

”Nothing that I know of,” he answered. ”We have been merely talking about things in general; have we not, Heathcote? It will soon be bed-time, or I should like to have heard more about your part of the country. I'll get you to tell me to-morrow. Good-night, Heathcote.”

Saying this, he moved away.

”I'm glad I came back when I did,” sail Newland. ”That fellow is the most notorious sponge in the school. We call him Spongy Spiller. He makes friends with all the new fellows, and sticks like a leech to them as long as they have a piece of cake, or a lump of barley-sugar, or anything else in their boxes, which he can get hold of. His desk is full of things, which, he says, were given him, but which he has, in reality, sponged out of fellows. About your box; unless there is anything in it which won't keep, just don't open it for a day or two, till you are able to judge for yourself a little of fellows. To-morrow is a half-holiday, and you will better see what the different fellows really are.”

Digby said he would take his advice, for he felt sure that he might trust him. Both Newland and Spiller were strangers, but, when comparing the two, he did not for a moment hesitate as to which was most worthy of his confidence.

Just then the bell rang; and Paul told him they were to have prayers.

He expected to see Mr Sanford; but instead, Mr Yates entered the head-master's desk, and saying that he was too unwell to come into the schoolroom, read a very brief form of prayer, while the boys knelt up on the forms at their desks.

Digby was not surprised to find very little attention or reverence, for though Mr Yates read slowly, in a loud voice, there was a something in his tone which showed that the devotional spirit was not there.

The moment prayers were over, the boys rushed off upstairs. The lamps were put out by a man in a fustian coat, whom Digby had not seen before.

Digby found Paul by his side.

”Come along quickly, or you will have an apple-pie bed made,” he said, in a low voice. ”You ought to have been out one of the first.”

”Never mind,” answered Digby, laughing. ”I know how to unmake it fast enough. I have done such a thing as make one myself.”

”Very well, then,” said Paul, ”we need not hurry. You are to sleep in our room, I find. I have gone through a good deal from the fellows there, though they now let me alone. You'll not have a pleasant night of it, I am afraid. I wish that I could help you.”

”You can help me,” exclaimed Digby, who had been been silent for some time, as they went upstairs. ”I have made up my mind how to act. Is there no one who would support you?”

”Yes; I think that there is one, Farnham. He is a good sort of fellow, but he generally sides with the majority. However, if he sees anything done in a spirited way, it would take with him.”

”Then I'll do it,” cried Digby. ”There are no very big fellows who could thrash me easily.”

”There are two or three a good deal bigger than you are; and I don't think that you could thrash them.”

”I don't mind that,” answered Digby. ”They would find me very tough, at all events, if they attempt to thrash me. You go into the room first; it won't do to let it appear as if we had formed any plan together.”

Newland seemed highly delighted at Digby's proposal, and ran on into the room, which was at the end of a long pa.s.sage.

Digby followed in a few seconds. He had noted well the position of the bed Mrs Pike had told him was to be his, so he walked straight up to it. Susan had placed his night-s.h.i.+rt and night-cap on the pillow. A lamp, with a tin reflector, placed against the wall, over the wash-hand places, gave light to the room. Most of the boys had already got their clothes off, and had tumbled into bed; they were laughing, and talking, and cutting jokes with each other.

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