t's what my father says, and he had a pretty
rough time of it, he said, at first."

"Oh, _yes_; I'm sure it's all the worse for a fellow if he funks or gets
out of temper."

All this was very alarming talk for the timorous small boy to overhear,
and he longed, a hundred times, to be safe back in Devonshire.

"I'm afraid," he faltered. "I know--I shall be a coward."

"Don't be a young ass," said Dick. "Heathcote and I will back you up
all we can, won't we, Georgie?"

"Rather," said Heathcote.

"If you do, it won't be half so bad," said the boy, brightening up a
bit; "it's dreadful to be a coward."

"Well, why are you one?" said Dick. "No one's obliged to be one."

"I suppose I can't help it. I try hard."

"There goes the bell. I suppose that's for us to go in," said Dick, as
the summons once more sounded.

They found the matron with a list in her hand, which she proceeded to
call over, bidding each boy answer to his name. The first twelve were
the new boys of Westover's house, and they included our two heroes and
Aspinall, who were forthwith marched, together with their night apparel,
across the court to their new quarters.

Here they were received by another matron, who presided over the
wardrobes of the youth of Westover's, and by her they were escorted to
one of the dormitories, where, for that night at any rate, they were to
be permitted to sleep in the comfort of one another's society.

"New boys are to call on the Doctor after breakfast in the morning,"
announced she. "Breakfast at eight, and no morning chapel. Good-
night!"

It was not long before the dormitory was silent. One by one, the tired
boys dropped off, most of them with heavy hearts as they thought of the
morrow.

Among the last was Dick, who, as he lay awake and went over, in his
mind, the experiences of the day, was startled by what sounded very like
a sob in the bed next to his.

He had half a mind to get up and go and say something to the dismal
little Devonshire boy.

But on second thoughts he thought the kindest thing would be to let the
poor fellow have his cry out, so he turned over and tried not to hear
it; and while trying he fell asleep.

CHAPTER FOUR.

HOW OUR HEROES ARE PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES.

"The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold" early next day. The
twenty innocent lambs whom, in the last chapter, we left sweetly folded
in slumber had barely had time to arise and comb their hair when the