hat
_those_ are not the kind of lessons he teaches."

"No, Russell; you're quite right. It's bad for a fellow in every way.
First of all, it keeps him in an unnatural sort of dependence; then ten
to one it makes him conceited, and prevents his character from really
coming out well. And besides, the young chap generally gets paid out in
kicks and abuse from the jealousy and contempt of the rest; and if his
protector happens to leave, or anything of that kind, woe betide him!"

"No fear for Eric in that line, though," said Russell; "he can hold his
own pretty well against any one. And after all, he is a most jolly
fellow. I don't think even Upton would spoil him; it's chiefly the soft
self-indulgent fellows, who are all straw and no iron, who get spoilt by
being `taken up.'"

Russell was partly right. Eric learned a great deal of harm from Upton,
and the misapplied hero-worship led to bad results. But he was too
manly a little fellow, and had too much self-respect, to sink into the
dependent condition which usually grows on the foolish little boys who
have the misfortune to be "taken up."

Nor did he in the least drop his old friends, except Owen. A coolness
grew up between the latter and Eric, not unmingled with a little mutual
contempt. Eric sneered at Owen as a fellow who did nothing but grind
all day long, and had no geniality in him; while Owen pitied the love of
popularity which so often led Eric into delinquencies, which he himself
despised. Owen had, indeed, but few friends in the school; the only boy
who knew him well enough to respect and like him thoroughly was Russell,
who found in him the only one who took the same high ground with
himself. But Russell loved the good in every one, and was loved by all
in return, and Eric he loved most of all, while he often mourned over
his increasing failures.

One day as the two were walking together in the green playground, Mr
Gordon passed by; and as the boys touched their caps, he nodded and
smiled pleasantly at Russell, but hardly noticed, and did not return
Eric's salute. He had begun to dislike the latter more and more, and
had given him up altogether as one of the reprobates. Barker, who
happened to pass at the same moment, received from him the same cold
glance that Eric had done.

"What a surly devil that is," said Eric, when he had passed; "did you
see how he purposely cut me?"

"A surly...? Oh, Eric, that's the first time I ever heard you swe