Part 32 (1/2)

Eric awoke with a bad headache, and a sense of shame and sickness. When he got up he felt most wretched; and while was.h.i.+ng he thought to himself, ”Ah! that I could thus wash away the memory of last night!” Of course, after what had occurred, Eric and Montagu were no longer on speaking terms, and miserable as poor Eric felt when he saw how his blow had bruised and disfigured his friend's face, he made no advances. He longed, indeed, from his inmost heart, to be reconciled to him; but feeling that he had done grievous wrong, he dreaded a repulse, and his pride would not suffer him to run the risk. So he pretended to feel no regret, and, supported by his late boon companions, represented the matter as occurring in the defence of Wildney, whom Montagu was bullying.

Montagu, too, was very miserable; but he felt that, although ready to forgive Eric, he could not, in common self-respect, take the first step to a reconciliation; indeed, he rightly thought that it was not for Eric's good that he should do so.

”You and Williams appear never to speak to each other now,” said Mr Rose. ”I am sorry for it, Monty; I think you are the only boy who has any influence over him.”

”I fear you are mistaken, sir, in that. Little Wildney has much more.”

”Wildney?” asked Mr Rose, in sorrowful surprise. ”Wildney more influence than _you_?”

”Yes, sir.”

”Ah, that our poor Edwin had lived!”

So, with a sigh, Walter Rose and Harry Montagu buried their friends.h.i.+p for Eric until happier days.

VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER SIX.

ERIC AND MONTAGU.

And constancy lives in realms above; And life is th.o.r.n.y; and youth is vain; And to be wroth with one we love Doth work like madness in the brain.

Each spoke words of high disdain, And insult to his heart's best brother.

_Coleridge's Christabel_.

Wright had not forgotten Montagu's advice, and had endeavoured to get the names of boys who weren't afraid to scout publicly the disgrace of cheating in form. But he could only get one name promised him--the name of Vernon Williams; and feeling how little could be gained by using it, he determined to spare Vernon the trial, and speak, if he spoke at all, on his own responsibility.

As usual, the cribbing at the next weekly examination was well-nigh universal, and when Mr Gordon went out to fetch something he had forgotten, merely saying, ”I trust to your honour not to abuse my absence,” books and papers were immediately pulled out with the coolest and most unblus.h.i.+ng indifference.

This was the time for Wright to deliver his conscience; he had counted the cost, and, rightly or wrongly, considering it to be his duty, he had decided that speak he would. He well knew that his interference would be attributed to jealousy, meanness, sneaking, and every kind of wrong motive, since he was himself one of the greatest sufferers from the prevalent dishonesty; but still he had come to the conclusion that he _ought_ not to draw back, and therefore he bravely determined that he would make his protest, whatever happened.

So, very nervously, he rose and said, ”I want to tell you all that I think this cheating very wrong and blackguardly. I don't mind losing by it myself; but if Vernon Williams loses the prize in the lower-fourth, and any one gets it by copying, I've made up my mind to tell Gordon.”

His voice trembled a little at first, but he spoke fast, and acquired firmness as he went on. Absolute astonishment and curiosity had held the boys silent with amazement, but by the end of this sentence they had recovered themselves, and a perfect burst of derision and indignation followed.

”Let's see if _that'll_ cut short his oration,” said Wildney, throwing a book at his head, which was instantly followed by others from all quarters.

”My word! we've had nothing but lectures lately,” said Booking. ”Horrid little Owenite saint.”

”Saint!--sneak, you mean. I'll teach him,” growled Pietrie, and jumping up, he belaboured Wright's head with the Latin Grammar out of which he had just been cribbing.

The whole room was in confusion and hubbub, during which Wright sat stock-still, quietly enduring without bowing to the storm.

Only one boy sympathised with him, but he did so deeply--poor little penitent Vernon. He felt his position hard because Wright had alluded so prominently to him, and he knew how much he must be misconstrued but he had his brother's spirit, and would not shrink. Amid the tumult he got up in his seat, and they heard his pleasant childish voice saying boldly, ”I hope Wright won't tell; but he's the best fellow in the room, and cribbing _is_ a shame, as he says.”

What notice would have been taken of this speech is doubtful, for at the critical moment Mr Gordon reappeared, and the whispered cave caused instantaneous quiet.

Poor Wright awaited with some dread the end of school; and many an angry kick and blow he got, though he disarmed malice by the spirit and heroism with which he endured them. The news of his impudence spread like wildfire, and not five boys in the school approved of what he had done, while most of them were furious at his ill-judged threat of informing Mr Gordon. There was a general agreement to thrash him after roll-call that afternoon.

Eric had lately taken a violent dislike to Wright, though he had been fond of him in better days. He used to denounce him as a disagreeable and pragmatical little m.u.f.f, and was as loud as any of them in condemning his announced determination to ”sneak.” Had he known that Wright had acted under Montagu's well-meant, though rather mistaken advice, he might have abstained from having anything more to do with the matter, but now he promised to kick Wright himself after the four o'clock bell.