saw what was passing in his
mind, and so, like a wise negotiator, threw in an appeal to his warm
heart. "Poor little fellow," said she in almost a whisper, "his father's
dead, and he's got no brothers. And his mamma, such a kind sweet lady,
almost broke her heart at leaving him this morning; and she said one of
his sisters was like to die of decline, and so----"

"Well, well," burst in Tom, with something like a sigh at the effort, "I
suppose I must give up East. Come along, young un. What's your name?
We'll go and have some supper, and then I'll show you our study."

"His name's George Arthur," said the matron, walking up to him with Tom,
who grasped his little delicate hand as the proper preliminary to making
a chum of him, and felt as if he could have blown him away. "I've had
his books and things put into the study, which his mamma has had new
papered, and the sofa covered, and new green-baize curtains over the
door" (the diplomatic matron threw this in, to show that the new boy was
contributing largely to the partnership comforts). "And Mrs. Arnold told
me to say," she added, "that she should like you both to come up to tea
with her. You know the way, Master Brown, and the things are just gone
up, I know."

Here was an announcement for Master Tom! He was to go up to tea the
first night, just as if he were a sixth or fifth-form boy, and of
importance in the school world, instead of the most reckless young
scapegrace amongst the fags. He felt himself lifted on to a higher
social and moral platform at once. Nevertheless, he couldn't give up
without a sigh the idea of the jolly supper in the housekeeper's room
with East and the rest, and a rush round to all the studies of his
friends afterwards, to pour out the deeds and wonders of the holidays,
to plot fifty plans for the coming half-year, and to gather news of who
had left, and what new boys had come, who had got who's study, and where
the new praepostors slept. However, Tom consoled himself with thinking
that he couldn't have done all this with the new boy at his heels, and
so marched off along the passages to the Doctor's private house with his
young charge in tow, in monstrous good humour with himself and all the
world.

It is needless, and would be impertinent, to tell how the two young boys
were received in that drawing-room. The lady who presided there is still
living, and has carried with her to her peaceful home in the North the
respect and love of all th