which I shall make
you read aloud before the whole school at twelve to-day."

Eric, with trembling hand, wrote his apology, and Dr Rowlands glanced
at it. "That will do," he said; "I am glad you take a right view of the
matter. Come to me again at twelve."

At twelve all the school were assembled, and Eric, pale and miserable,
followed the Doctor into the great schoolroom. The masters stood at one
end of the room, and among them Mr Rose, who, however, appeared an
indifferent and uninterested spectator of the transaction. Every glance
was fixed on Eric, and every one pitied him.

"We are assembled," said Dr Rowlands, "for an act of justice. One of
your number has insulted a master publicly, and is ashamed of his
conduct, and has himself written the apology which he will read. I had
intended to add a still severer punishment, but Mr Rose has earnestly
begged me not to do so, and I have succumbed to his wishes. Williams,
read your apology."

There was a dead hush, and Eric tried once or twice in vain to utter a
word. At last, by a spasmodic effort, he regained his voice, and read,
but in so low and nervous a tone, that not even those nearest him heard
what he was saying.

Dr Rowlands took the paper from him. "Owing," he said, "to a very
natural and pardonable emotion, the apology has been read in such a way
that you could not have understood it. I will therefore read it myself.
It is to this effect--`I, Eric Williams, beg humbly and sincerely to
apologise for my passionate and ungrateful insult to Mr Rose.'"

"You will understand that he was left quite free to choose his own
expressions; and as he has acknowledged his shame and compunction for
the act, I trust that none of you will be tempted to elevate him into a
hero, for a folly which he himself so much regrets. This affair--as I
should wish all bad deeds to be after they have once been punished--will
now be forgiven, and I hope forgotten."

They left the room and dispersed, and Eric fancied that all shunned and
looked coldly on his degradation. But not so: Montagu came, and taking
his arm in the old friendly way, went a walk with him. It was a
constrained and silent walk, and they were both glad when it was over,
although Montagu did all he could to show that he loved Eric no less
than before. Still it was weeks since they had been much together, and
they had far fewer things in common now than they used to have before.
Eric's sprightliness, once