he wrote to his father and mother an account of Russell's
death, and he felt that they would guess why the letter was so blurred.
"But," he wrote, "I have some friends still; especially Mr Rose among
the masters, and Monty and Upton among the boys. Monty you know; he is
more like Edwin than any other boy, and I like him very much. You
didn't know Upton, but I am a great deal with him, though he is much
older than I am. He is a fine handsome fellow, and one of the most
popular in the school. I hope you will know him some day."

The very next morning Eric received a letter which he at once recognised
to be in Upton's handwriting. He eagerly tore off the envelope, and
read--

"My Dearest Eric--I have got bad news to tell you, at least I feel it
to be bad news for me, and I flatter myself that you will feel it to
be bad news for you. In short, I am going to leave Roslyn, and
probably we shall never meet there again. The reason is, I have had a
cadetship given me, and I am to sail for India in September. I have
already written to the school to tell them to pack up and send me all
my books and clothes.

"I feel leaving very much; it has made me quite miserable. I wanted
to stay at school another year at least; and I will honestly tell you,
Eric, one reason; I'm very much afraid that I've done you, and Graham,
and other fellows no good; and I wanted, if I possibly could, to undo
the harm I had done. Poor Edwin's death opened my eyes to a good many
things, and now I'd give all I have never to have taught or encouraged
you in wrong things. Unluckily it's too late;--only, I hope that you
already see, as I do, that the things I mean lead to evil far greater
than we ever used to dream of.

"Good-bye now, old fellow! Do write to me soon, and forgive me, and
believe me ever--Your most affectionate, Horace Upton.

"P.S.--Is that jolly little Vernon going back to school with you this
time? I remember seeing him running about the shore with my poor
cousin when you were a home-boarder, and thinking what a nice little
chap he looked. I hope you'll look after him as a brother should, and
keep him out of mischief."

Eric folded the letter sadly, and put it into his pocket; he didn't
often show them his school letters, because, like this one, they often
contained allusions to things which he did not like his aunt to know.
The thought of Upton's leaving made him quite unhappy,