ertainly, not again to-night," said Walter; "they're all asleep;
and if anyone does it again another night, you must just slip out of bed
and not mind it. It doesn't hurt."

"Thank you," whispered Eden; "you're very kind, and nobody else has been
kind to me here. Will you tell me _your_ name?"

"My name's Walter Evson. Do you know, your voice and look remind me of
my little brother. There," he said, tucking him up in bed, "now
good-night, and go to sleep."

The little fellow pressed Walter's hand hard, said good-night, and soon
forgot his misery in a sleep of pure weariness. I do not think that he
would have slept at all that night, but for the comforting sense that he
had found, to lean upon, a stronger nature and a stronger character than
his own. Walter heard him breathing peacefully, and then he too fell
asleep, and neither woke nor dreamt (that he was aware of), until
half-past seven the next morning, when a servant roused the boys by
ringing a large hand-bell in their ears.

CHAPTER FIVE.

SCHOOL TROUBLES.

The sorrows of thy youthful day Shall make thee wise in coming years!
The brightest rainbows ever play Above the fountains of our tears.

Mackay.

Walter jumped up and began to dress at once; Eden, still looking pale
and frightened, soon followed his example, and recognised him with a
smile of gratitude. None of the other five boys who occupied the room
thought of stirring until the chapel-bell began to ring, which left them
the ample space of a quarter of an hour for their orisons, ablutions,
and all other necessary preparations!

Walter, who was now half-dressed, glanced at them as they got up, to
discover the owner of the slipper, which he still kept in his
possession. He watched for the one-sandalled enemy as eagerly as Pelias
may be supposed to have done. First Jones tumbled out of bed, not even
deigning a surly recognition, but Jones had his right complement of
slippers. Then two other fellows, named Anthony and Franklin, not quite
so big as Jones; their slippers were all right. Then Cradock, who
looked a little shyly at Eden, and, after a while, told him that he was
only playing a joke the night before, and was sorry for having
frightened him; and last, Harpour, the biggest of the lot. Harpour was
one of those fellows who are to be found in every school, and who are
always dangerous characters: a huge boy, very low down in the forms,
very strong, very stupid in work, rath