ly I thought I'd tell you;" and Lillyston,
half-ashamed at having taken this step, and half-afraid that Julian
might misconstrue it, ran away. Julian, who was little pleased with the
coarse adulation of Brant and Jeffrey, took his friend's advice, and
from that time he and Lillyston became more and more closely united.
They were constantly together, and never tired of each other's society;
and at last, when their tutor, observing and thoroughly approving of the
friendship, put them both in the same room, the school began in fun to
call them Achilles and Patroclus, Damon and Pythias, Orestes and
Pylades, David and Jonathan, Theseus and Pirithous, and as many other
names of _paria amicorum_ as they could remember.

Yet there was many a Harton boy who would have said, "Utinam in tali
amicitia tertius ascriberer!" for each friend communicated to the other
something at least of his own excellences. Lillyston instructed Julian
in the mysteries of fives, racquets, football, and cricket, until he
became an adept at them all; and Julian, in return, gave Lillyston very
efficient help in work, and inspired him with intellectual tastes for
which he felt no little gratitude in after days. The desire of getting
his remove with Julian worked so much with him that he began to rise
many places in the examinations; and while Julian was generally among
the first few, Lillyston managed to be placed, at any rate, far above
the ranks of the undistinguished herd.

So, form by form, Lillyston and Julian Home mounted up the school side
by side, and illustrated the noblest and holiest uses of friendship by
adding to each other's happiness and advantage in every way. I am glad
to dwell on such a picture, knowing, O holy Friendship, how awfully a
schoolboy can sometimes _desecrate_ thy name!

Three years had passed, and they were now no longer little boys, but in
the upper fifth form together, and Julian was in his sixteenth year. It
was one March morning, when, shortly after they entered the school-room,
the school "Custos" came in and handed to the master a letter--

"It's for Mister Home, sir, by telegraph."

The master called Julian, (whose heart beat quick when he heard his
name), and said to him--

"Perhaps you had better take it out of the room, Home, before you read
it, as it may contain something important."

With a grateful look for this considerate kindness, Julian took the
hint, and leaving the room, tore open the message,