“Did he really, Horace?” said Eric.  “And it’s all my doing that you’ve got into the scrape.  Do forgive me.”

“Bosh!  My dear fellow,” said Upton, “it’s twice as much my fault as yours; and, after all, it was only a bit of fun.  It’s rather a bore losing the study, certainly; but never mind, we shall see all the more of each other.  Good night; I must be off.”

Next morning, prayers were no sooner over than Dr. Rowlands said to the boys, “Stop!  I have a word to say to you”

“I find that there was the utmost disorder in the dormitories yesterday evening.  All the candles were relighted at forbidden hours, and the noise made was so great that it was heard through the whole building.  I am grieved that I cannot leave you, even for a few hours, without your taking such advantage of my absence; and that the upper boys, so far from using their influence to prevent these infractions of discipline, seem inclined rather to join in them themselves.  On this occasion I have punished Upton, by depriving him of a privilege which he has abused; and as I myself detected Duncan and Williams, they will be flogged in the library at twelve.  But I now come to the worst part of the proceeding.  Somebody had been reckless enough to try and prevent surprise by the dangerous expedient of putting a tin basin against the iron door.  The consequence was, that I was severely hurt, and might have been seriously injured in entering the lavatory.  I must know the name of the delinquent.”

Upton and Eric immediately stood up.  Dr. Rowlands looked surprised, and there was an expression of grieved interest in Mr. Rose’s face.

“Very well,” said the Doctor, “I shall speak to you both privately.”

Twelve o’clock came, and Duncan and Eric received a severe caning.  Corporal punishment, however necessary and desirable for some dispositions, always produced on Eric the worst effects.  He burned, not with remorse or regret, but with shame and violent indignation, and listened, with a glare in his eye, to Dr. Rowlands’ warnings.  When the flogging was over, he almost rushed out of the room, to choke in solitude his sense of humiliation, nor would he suffer any one for an instant to allude to his disgrace.  Dr. Rowlands had hinted that Upton was doing him no good; but he passionately resented the suggestion, and determined, with obstinate perversity, to cling more than ever to the boy whom he had helped to involve in the same trouble with himself.

Any attempt on the part of masters to interfere in the friendships of boys is usually unsuccessful.  The boy who has been warned against his new acquaintance not seldom repeats to him the fact that Mr. So-and-so doesn’t like seeing them together, and after that they fancy themselves bound in honor to show that they are not afraid of continuing their connection.  It was not strange, therefore, that Eric and Upton were thrown more than ever into each other’s society, and consequently, that Eric, while he improved daily in strength, activity, and prowess, neglected more and more his school duties and honorable ambitions.