,
sprang towards Mr Rose, and almost before he knew what he was about,
had wrenched the cane out of his hands, twisted it violently in the
middle until it broke, and flung one of the pieces furiously into the
fire.

For one instant, boy and master--Eric Williams and Mr Rose--stood
facing each other amid breathless silence, the boy panting and
passionate, with his brain swimming, and his heart on fire; the master
pale, grieved, amazed beyond measure, but perfectly self-collected.

"After that exhibition," said Mr Rose, with cold and quiet dignity,
"you had better leave the room."

"Yes, I had," answered Eric bitterly; "there's your cane." And,
flinging the other fragment at Mr Rose's head, he strode blindly out of
the room, sweeping books from the table, and overturning several boys in
his way. He then banged the door with all his force, and rushed up into
his study.

Duncan was there, and, remarking his wild look and demeanour, asked,
after a moment's awkward silence, "Is anything the matter, Williams?"

"Williams!" echoed Eric with a scornful laugh; "yes, that's always the
way with a fellow when he's in trouble. I always know what's coming
when you begin to leave off calling me by my Christian name."

"Very well, then," said Duncan good-humouredly, "what's the matter,
Eric?"

"Matter?" answered Eric, pacing up and down the little room with an
angry to-and-fro like a caged wild beast, and kicking everything which
came in his way; "matter? hang you all, you are all turning against me,
because you are a set of muffs, and--"

"Take care!" said Duncan; but suddenly he caught Eric's look, and
stopped.

"And I've been breaking Rose's cane over his head, because he had the
impudence to touch me with it, and--"

"Eric, you're not yourself to-night," said Duncan, interrupting, but
speaking in the kindest tone; and taking Eric's hand, he looked him
steadily in the face.

Their eyes met; the boy's false self once more slipped off. By a strong
effort he repressed the rising passion which the fumes of drink had
caused, and flinging himself on his chair, refused to speak again, or
even to go down stairs when the prayer-bell rang.

Seeing that in his present mood there was nothing to be done with him,
Duncan, instead of returning to the study, went after prayers into
Montagu's, and talked with him over the recent events, of which the
boys' minds were all full.

But Eric sat lonely, sulky, and miserable, in his st