enerally called recklessness
and impiety the moment they feel that anything is being poured upon
them for their good, which does not come home to their inborn sense of
right, or which appeals to anything like self-interest in them. Daring
and honest by nature, and outspoken to an extent which alarmed all
respectabilities, with a constant fund of animal health and spirits
which he did not feel bound to curb in any way, he had gained for
himself with the steady part of the school (including as well those
who wished to appear steady as those who really were so) the character
of a boy with whom it would be dangerous to be intimate; while his own
hatred of everything cruel, or underhand, or false, and his hearty
respect for what he could see to be good and true, kept off the rest.

Tom, besides being very like East in many points of character, had
largely developed in his composition the capacity for taking the
weakest side. This is not putting it strongly enough; it was a
necessity with him; he couldn't help it any more than he could eating
or drinking. He could never play on the strongest side with any heart
at foot-ball or cricket, and was sure to make friends with any boy who
was unpopular, or down on his luck.

Now, though East was not what is generally called unpopular, Tom felt
more and more every day, as their characters developed, that he stood
alone, and did not make friends among their contemporaries; and
therefore sought him out. Tom was himself much more popular, for his
power of detecting humbug was much less acute, and his instincts were
much more sociable. He was at this period of his life, too, largely
given to taking people for what they gave themselves out to be; but
his singleness of heart, fearlessness and honesty were just what East
appreciated, and thus the two had been drawn into great intimacy.

This intimacy had been interrupted by Tom's guardianship of Arthur.

FRIENDSHIP TESTED.

East had often, as has been said, joined them in reading the Bible,
but their discussion had almost always turned upon the characters of
the men and women of whom they read, and not become personal to
themselves. In fact, the two had shrunk from personal religious
discussion, not knowing how it might end; and fearful of risking a
friendship very dear to both, and which they felt somehow, without
quite knowing why, would never be the same, but either tenfold
stronger or sapped[19] at its foundation, after such commu