Part 3 (1/2)

Then all at once Mr Tidd came and sat upon his head, andthe author of one of the books his uncle had placed in his hands to read

He tried to force hi loud, and then ly, till the torture seeony of misery and despair he tried to escape from the pressure, and to assure his torturer that he would strive hard to master the book But not a word could he utter, only lie there panting, till the eyes that glared looked close down into his, and a voice said--

”Now then, wake up, stupid Don't be snoring like that”

CHAPTER THREE

To He was only half awake, and it was some time before he could realise that it was his cousin, who had come back fro him some trick as he lay there asleep

”Well, what are you staring at, old torpid?” cried Saan to divest himself slowly of his coat and vest

”I--that is--have been asleep,” stah to bring the plaster off the ceiling Why, youyourself like a boa-constrictor, and been sleeping it off Come, wake up, bumpkin, you're half stupid now”

”I'm quite awake, Sa onwhat?” cried Sam ”No, I wasn't; but you want so you to your senses Wake up; I want to talk”

Tom tried to rub the last traces of his drowsiness out of his eyes, and now sat up watching his cousin, who, after taking off collar and tie, unfastened his braces, and then, as if ht, he tied the aforesaid suspenders about his waist Then, grinning to himself, he stooped down, untied his Oxford shoes, pushed the ”_Play_!” bowled it sharply at Tom where he sat up in bed on the other side of the room

It was a bad shot, for the shoe whizzed by the lad's side, and struck the scroll-work of the iron bedstead with a sharp rap, and fell on the pillow

”Play again!” cried Say at the still confused and sleepy boy

This time the aim was excellent, and Tom was too helpless to avoid the e of the heel catching hi hi boisterously ”I say, burew dark, and the hand which he held to his injured face twitched as if the fingers were trying to clench themselves and form a fist for their owner's defence; but the boy did not stir, only sat looking at his cousin, who now struck an attitude,out sharply, catching To him backward so heavily that it was his cro that struck the scroll-work of the bed

”That's your sort, countryman,” cried Sam ”How do you like that style?”

”Don't! Be quiet, will you,” said the boy in a suffocated voice, as he sat up once et up and have a round with the gloves

I feel as if I can hit to-night It's the rowing My arms are as hard as wood”

”No; be quiet,” said Tom huskily ”They'll hear you down-stairs”

”Let 'eed open a drawer, and brought out a couple of pairs of boxing-gloves, two of which he hurled with all his ht like a couple of balls at his cousin's head

But the boy ide-awake now, and caught each glove in turn, letting it fall afterwards upon the bed before him

”Now then, shove 'eloves he held ”Look sharp, or I'll knock you off the bed”

”No, no,” cried Tom; ”don't be so absurd How can I when I'm undressed?”