the building,
there was little immediate chance of detection. So the laughter of the
party grew louder and sillier; the talk more foolish and random; the
merriment more noisy and meaningless. But still most of them mingled
some sense of caution with their enjoyment, and warned Eric and Wildney
more than once that they must look out, and not take too much that night
for fear of being caught. But it was Wildney's birthday, and Eric's
boyish mirth, suppressed by his recent troubles, was blazing out
unrestrained. In the riot of their feasting the caution had been
utterly neglected, and the two boys were far from being sober when the
sound of the prayer-bell ringing through the great hall startled them
into momentary consciousness.

"Good heavens!" shouted Graham, springing up; "there's the prayer-bell;
I'd no notion it was so late. Here, let's shove these brandy bottles
and things into the cupboards and drawers, and then we must run down."

There was no time to lose. The least muddled of the party had cleared
the room in a moment, and then addressed themselves to the more
difficult task of trying to quiet Eric and Wildney, and conduct them
steadily into the prayer-room.

Wildney's seat was near the door, so there was little difficulty in
getting him to his place comparatively unobserved. Llewellyn took him
by the arm, and after a little stumbling helped him safely to his seat,
where he assumed a look of preternatural gravity. But Eric sat near the
head of the first table, not far from Dr Rowlands's desk, and none of
the others had to go to that part of the room. Graham grasped his arm
tight, led him carefully down stairs, and, as they were reaching the
door, said to him, in a most earnest and imploring tone--

"Do try and walk sensibly to your place, Eric, or we shall all be
caught."

It was rather late when they got down. Everybody was quietly seated,
and most of the Bibles were already open, although the Doctor had not
yet come in. Consequently, the room was still, and the entrance of
Graham and Eric after the rest attracted general notice. Eric had just
sense enough to try and assume his ordinary manner; but he was too giddy
with the fumes of drink to walk straight or act naturally.

Vernon was sitting next to Wright, and stared at his brother with great
eyes and open lips. He was not the only observer.

"Wright," whispered he in a timid voice; "just see how Eric walks. What
can be the matter with h