him from the place which he once held as his chief
friend; and that Walter had also usurped _his_ old place in _their_
affections. This displeased him greatly, for he was not one who could
contentedly take the second place. He could not have had a more
excellent companion than the manly and upright Whalley; but in his close
intimacy with him he had rather hoped to pique Walter, and show him that
his society was not indispensable to his happiness. But Walter's open
and generous mind was quite incapable of understanding this unworthy
motive, and with feelings far better trained than those of Kenrick, he
never felt the slightest qualm of this small jealousy.

"Never mind, my dear fellow," said Whalley, patting him on the back;
"why should you care so much because two _such_ fellows as White-feather
and Varnish try to be impudent. I shouldn't care the snap of a finger
for anything they could say."

"It isn't that, Whalley, it isn't that," said Kenrick proudly, drying
his tears. "But how did those fellows know the things they were hinting
at? Only one person ever heard them, and he must have betrayed them to
laugh at me behind my back. It's _that_ that makes me miserable."

"But whom do you mean?"

"The excellent Evson," said Kenrick bitterly. "And mark me, Whalley,
I'll never speak to him again."

"_Evson_," said Whalley, "I don't believe he's at all the fellow to do
it. Are you certain?"

"Quite. No one else could know the things."

"But surely you'll ask him first?"

"It's no use," answered Kenrick, gloomily; "but I _will_, in order that
he may understand that I have found him out."

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

A BROKEN FRIENDSHIP.

Everard, Everard, which was the truest,
God in the future, and Time will show,
Ne'er will I stoop to defence or excuses--
If you despise me--be it so!
But, my Everard, still (for I love you)
This to the end my prayer shall be--
Ne'er may you be so sternly treated,
Never be judged as you judge me.--F.

Kenrick did not happen to meet Walter during the remainder of that
Sunday, because Walter was chiefly sitting in Mr Percival's room, but
the next day, still nursing the smouldering fire of his anger, he
determined to get the first opportunity he could of meeting him, in
order that he might tax him with his supposed false friendship and
breach of confidence.

Accordingly, when school was over next day, he went with Whalley to look
for him in the playgro