idst of so many dangers. Often
the master asked him, and Russell and Owen and Montagu, to supper with
him in the library, which gave them the privilege of sitting up later
than usual, and enjoying a more quiet and pleasant evening than was
possible in the noisy rooms. Boys and master were soon quite at home
with each other, and in this way Mr Rose had an opportunity of
instilling many a useful warning without the formality of regular
discipline or stereotyped instruction.

Eric found the life of the "boarders' room" far rougher than he had
expected. Work was out of the question there, except during the hours
of preparation, and the long dark winter evenings were often dull
enough. Sometimes, indeed, they would all join in some regular indoor
boys' game like "baste the bear," or "high-cockolorum"; or they would
have amusing "ghost-hunts," as they called them, after some dressed-up
boy among the dark corridors and staircases. This was good fun, but at
other times they got tired of games, and could not get them up, and then
numbers of boys felt the idle time hang heavy on their hands. When this
was the case, some of the worst sort, as might have been expected, would
fill up their leisure with bullying or mischief.

For some time they had a form of diversion which disgusted and annoyed
Eric exceedingly. On each of the long iron-bound deal tables were
placed two or three tallow candles in tin candlesticks, and this was the
only light the boys had. Of course these candles often wanted snuffing,
and as snuffers were sure to be thrown about and broken as soon as they
were brought into the room, the only resource was to snuff them with the
fingers, at which all the boys became great adepts, from necessity. One
evening Barker, having snuffed the candle, suddenly and slyly put the
smouldering wick unnoticed on the head of a little quiet inoffensive
fellow named Wright, who happened to be sitting next to him. It went on
smouldering for some time without Wright's perceiving it, and at last
Barker, highly delighted, exclaimed--"I see a chimney," and laughed.

Four or five boys looked up, and very soon every one in the room had
noticed the trick except little Wright himself, who unconsciously toiled
on at the letter he was sending home.

Eric did not like this, but not wishing to come across Barker again,
said nothing, and affected not to have observed. But Russell said
quietly, "There's something on your head, Wright,"