d boy,
and the weak fear of man which actuated others, all was disunion,
misery, and deterioration. The community which had once been peaceful,
happy, and united, was filled with violent jealousy and heart-burnings;
every boy's hand seemed to be against his neighbour; lying, bad
language, dishonesty, grew fearfully rife, and the few who, like Owen
and Montagu, remained uncontaminated by the general mischief, walked
alone and despondent amid their uncongenial and degraded school-fellows.

VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER TWO.

WILDNEY.

That punishment's the best to hear
That follows soonest on the sin,
And guilt's a game where losers fare
Better than those who seem to win.
_Cov. Patmore_.

AT the beginning of this quarter, Eric and Duncan had succeeded to one
of the studies, and Owen shared with Montagu the one which adjoined it.

Latterly the small boys, in the universal spirit of disobedience, had
frequented the studies a good deal, but it was generally understood that
no study-boy might ask any one to be a regular visitor to his room
without the leave of its other occupant.

So one evening Duncan said to Eric, "Do you know little Wildney?"

"You mean that jolly fearless-looking little fellow, with the great
black eyes, who came at the beginning of the quarter? No, I don't know
him."

"Well he's a very nice little fellow; a regular devil."

"Humph!" said Eric, laughing, "I shall bring out a new
Duncan-dictionary, in which _Kerkokepovuchos_ equals `very nice little
fellow.'"

"Pooh!" said Duncan; "you know well enough what I mean; I mean he's not
one of your white-faced, lily-hearted new boys, but has lots of fun in
him."

"Well, what of him?"

"Have you any objection to my asking him to sit in the study when he
likes?"

"Not the least in the world."

"Very well, I'll go and fetch him now. But wouldn't you like to ask
your brother Vernon to come in too, whenever he's inclined?"

"No," said Eric, "I don't care. He does come every now and then."

Duncan went to fetch Wildney, and while he was gone, Eric was thinking
_why_ he didn't give Vernon the free run of his study. He would not
admit to himself the true reason, which was, that he had too much ground
to fear that his example would do his brother no good.

Eric soon learned to like Wildney, who was a very bright, engaging,
spirited boy, with a dash of pleasant impudence about him which took
Eric's fancy. He had been one of the most mis