t
of the harm he was bringing about, and in answer to the indignant and
measureless invectives of Montagu and others, professed to see in
Brigson a very good fellow.

Brigson hated Montagu, because he read on his features the unvarying
glance of undisguised contempt. He dared not come across him openly,
since Montagu was so high in the school; and besides, though much the
bigger of the two, Brigson was decidedly afraid of him. But he chose
sly methods of perpetual annoyance. He nicknamed him "Rosebud," he
talked at him whenever he had an opportunity; he poisoned the minds of
the gang of youngsters against him; he spread malicious reports about
him; he diminished his popularity, and embittered his feelings, by every
secret and underhand means which lay in his power.

One method of torment was most successful. As a study-boy, Montagu did
not come to bed till an hour later than the lower part of the school,
and Brigson taught some of the little fellows to play all kinds of
tricks to his bed and room, so that when he came down, it was with the
certainty of finding everything in confusion. Sometimes his bed would
be turned right on end, and he would have to put it to the ground and
remake it before he could lie down. Sometimes all the furniture in the
room would be thrown about in different corners, with no trace of the
offender. Sometimes he would find all sorts of things put inside the
bed itself. The intolerable part of the vexation was, to be certain
that this was done at Brigson's instigation, or by his own hand, without
having the means of convicting or preventing him. Poor Monty grew very
sad at heart, and this perpetual dastardly annoyance weighed the more
heavily on his spirits, from its being of a kind which peculiarly grated
on his refined taste, and his natural sense of what was gentlemanly and
fair.

One night, coming down, as usual, in melancholy dread, he saw a light
under the door of his room. It struck him that he was earlier than
usual, and he walked up quickly and noiselessly. There they were at it.
The instant he entered, there was a rush through the opposite door, and
he felt convinced that one of the retreating figures was Brigson's. In
a second he had sprung across the room, so as to prevent the rest from
running, and with heaving breast and flashing eyes, glared at the
intruders as they stood there, sheepish and afraid.

"What!" he said angrily; "so you are the fellows who have had the