a bad fellow.
Luckily, however, no outbreak happened. How could it, when Hawkesbury
was always so amiable and forgiving and friendly? It was a wonder to me
how Jack _would_ persist in disliking this fellow. Sometimes I used to
be quite ashamed to see the scornful way in which he repulsed his
favours and offers of friendship. On the whole I rather liked
Hawkesbury.

The summer term was again drawing to a close, and for fear, I suppose,
lest the fact should convey any idea of pleasure to our minds, the
Henniker was down on us more than ever. The cane was in constant
requisition, and Mr Ladislaw was always being summoned up to administer
chastisement.

Even Hawkesbury, who generally managed to escape reproach, came in for
her persecution now and then.

One day, I remember, we were all in class, and she for some reason
quitted the room, leaving Mr Hashford in charge.

Now, no one minded Mr Hashford very much. He was a good-natured
fellow, who did his best to please both us and his mistress; but he was
"Henpecked," we could see, like all the rest of us, and we looked upon
him more as a big schoolfellow than as a master, and minded him
accordingly. We therefore accepted the Henniker's departure as a signal
for leaving off work and seizing the opportunity to loosen our tongues
and look about us. Hawkesbury happened to be sitting next to me. He
put down his pen, and, leaning back against the desk behind him, yawned
and said, "I say, Batchelor, I hope you and Smith haven't been
quarrelling?"

"Quarrelling!" exclaimed I, astounded at the bare notion. "Why,
whatever puts that into your head?"

"Oh," said he, with his usual smile, "only fancy. But I'm glad it isn't
the case."

"Of course it isn't," said I, warmly.

"I haven't seen you talking to him so often lately; that's why," said
Hawkesbury; "and it always seems a pity when good friends fall out."

I smiled and said, "How can I talk to him, except on the sly, in this
place? Never fear, Jack Smith and I know one another too well to fall
out."

"Ah, he is a mysterious fellow, and he lets so few people into his
secrets."

"Yes," said I, colouring a little. "He doesn't even let me into them."

Hawkesbury looked surprised. "Of course you know where he came from
first of all, and all that?"

"No, I don't," I said.

"What, not know about-- But I'd better not talk about it. It's not
honourable to talk about another boy's affairs."

"Hawkesbury," sai