avourite with the old gentleman, who loved to come out in
the afternoons into the close to Tom's wicket, and bowl slow twisters to
him, and talk of the glories of bygone Surrey heroes, with whom he
had played former generations.) So Tom roused himself, and took up
his candle to go to bed; and then for the first time was aware of
a beautiful new fishing-rod, with old Eton's mark on it, and a
splendidly-bound Bible, which lay on his table, on the title-page
of which was written--"TOM BROWN, from his affectionate and grateful
friends, Frances Jane Arthur; George Arthur."

I leave you all to guess how he slept, and what he dreamt of.

CHAPTER VII--HARRY EAST'S DILEMMAS AND DELIVERANCES.

"The Holy Supper is kept indeed,
In whatso we share with another's need
Not that which we give, but what we share,
For the gift without the giver is bare.
Who bestows himself with his alms feeds three,
Himself, his hungering neighbour and Me."
--LOWELL, The Vision of Sir Launfal.

The next morning, after breakfast, Tom, East, and Gower met as usual
to learn their second lesson together. Tom had been considering how to
break his proposal of giving up the crib to the others, and having found
no better way (as indeed none better can ever be found by man or boy),
told them simply what had happened; how he had been to see Arthur, who
had talked to him upon the subject, and what he had said, and for his
part he had made up his mind, and wasn't going to use cribs any more;
and not being quite sure of his ground, took the high and pathetic tone,
and was proceeding to say "how that, having learnt his lessons with
them for so many years, it would grieve him much to put an end to the
arrangement, and he hoped, at any rate, that if they wouldn't go on
with him, they should still be just as good friends, and respect one
another's motives; but--"

Here the other boys, who had been listening with open eyes and ears,
burst in,--

"Stuff and nonsense!" cried Gower. "Here, East, get down the crib and
find the place."

"O Tommy, Tommy!" said East, proceeding to do as he was bidden, "that it
should ever have come to this! I knew Arthur'd be the ruin of you some
day, and you of me. And now the time's come." And he made a doleful
face.

"I don't know about ruin," answered Tom; "I know that you and I would
have had the sack long ago if it hadn't been for him. And you know it as
well as I."

"Well, we were in a