st credit to himself, or
seeming to know, or let any one else know, he ever thought
particularly of any boy at all.

HERO-WORSHIP.

However, the Doctor's victory was complete from that moment, over Tom
Brown, at any rate. He gave way, at all points, and the enemy marched
right over him,--cavalry, infantry, and artillery, and the land
transport corps, and the camp followers. It had taken eight long years
to do it, but now it was done thoroughly, and there wasn't a corner of
him left which didn't believe in the Doctor. Had he returned to school
again, and the Doctor began in the half-year by abolishing fagging,
and foot-ball, and the Saturday half-holiday, or all or any of the
most cherished School institutions, Tom would have supported him with
the blindest faith. And so, after a half confession of his previous
short-comings, and sorrowful adieus to his tutor, from whom he
received two beautifully bound volumes of the Doctor's sermons,
as a parting present, he marched down to the School-house, a
hero-worshipper who would have satisfied the soul of Thomas
Carlyle[52] himself.

[52] #Thomas Carlyle#: a distinguished British author, died
1881. One of his best-known books is "Heroes and Hero
Worship."

There he found the eleven at high jinks after supper, Jack Raggles
shouting comic songs, and performing feats of strength; and was
greeted by a chorus of mingled remonstrances at his desertion and joy
at his reappearance.

And falling in with the humor of the evening was soon as great a boy
as all the rest; and at ten o'clock was chaired[53] round the
quadrangle, on one of the hall benches, borne aloft by the eleven,
shouting in chorus, "For he's a jolly good fellow," while old Thomas,
in a melting mood, and the other School-house servants stood looking
on.

[53] #Chaired#: here, carried.

And the next morning after breakfast he squared up all the cricketing
accounts, went round to his tradesmen and other acquaintances, and
said his hearty good-byes; and by twelve o'clock was in the train, and
away for London, no longer a school-boy, and divided his thoughts
between hero-worship, honest regrets over the long stage of his life
which was now slipping out of sight behind him, and hopes and resolves
for the next stage, upon which he was entering, with all the
confidence of a young traveller.

CHAPTER IX.

FINIS.

"Strange friend, past, present, and to be;
Loved deeplier, darkl