least bit of spree nowadays."

"Spree!" burst in Montagu indignantly; "fine spree--to make sots of
yourselves with spirits; fine spree to--"

"Amen!" said Wildney, who was perched on the back of a chair; and he
turned up his eyes and clasped his hands with a mock-heroic air.

"There, Williams," continued Montagu, pointing to the
mischievous-looking little boy; "see that spectacle, and be ashamed of
yourself, if you can. That's what you lead boys to! Are you anxious to
become the teacher of drunkenness?"

In truth, there was good ground for his sorrowful apostrophe, for the
scene was very painful to a high-minded witness.

They hardly understood the look on Eric's countenance; he had been
taking far more than was good for him; his eyes sparkled fiercely, and
though as yet he said nothing, he seemed to be resenting the intrusion
in furious silence.

"How much longer is this interesting lecture to last?" asked Ball, with
his usual insufferable tone; "for I want to finish my brandy."

Montagu rather looked as if he intended to give the speaker a box on the
ear; but he was just deciding that he wasn't worth the trouble, when
Wildney, who had been grimacing all the time, burst into a fit of
satirical laughter.

"Here, Wildney," said Graham; "just hand me _The Whole Duty of Man_, or
something of that sort, from the shelf, will you? That's a brick."

"Certainly. Let's see; Watts's Hymns; _I_ bag those for myself," said
Wildney; "they'll just suit--"

"How doth the little--"

"Let's turn out these impudent lower-school fellows," said Montagu,
speaking to Duncan. "Here! you go first," he said, seizing Wildney by
the arm, and giving him a swing, which, as he was by no means steady on
his legs, brought him sprawling to the ground, and sent Watts's Hymns
flying open-leaved under the table.

"By Jove, I won't stand this any longer," shouted Eric, springing up
ferociously. "What on earth do you mean by daring to come in like this?
Do you hear?"

Montagu took no sort of notice of his threatening gesture, for he was
looking to see if Wildney was hurt, and finding he was not, proceeded to
drag him out, struggling and kicking frantically.

"Drop me, you fellow, drop me, I say. I won't go for you," cried
Wildney, clinging tight to a chair. "Eric, why do you let him bully
me?"

"You let him go this minute," repeated Eric hoarsely.

"I shall do no such thing. You don't know what you're about."

"Don't I? Wel