lt the meeting inopportune; he was
ashamed to meet his friend, ashamed to speak to him, envious of him, and
jealous of his better reputation. He wanted to pass him by without
notice, but Russell would not suffer this. He came up to him and took
his arm affectionately. The slightest allusion to his late disgrace
would have made Eric flame out into a passion; but Russell was too kind
to allude to it then. He talked as if nothing had happened, and tried
to turn his friend's thoughts to more pleasant subjects. Eric
appreciated his kindness, but he was still sullen and fretful, and it
was not until they parted that his better feelings won the day. But
when Russell said to him, "Good-bye, Eric, and don't be down in the
mouth," it was too much for him, and seizing Edwin's hand, he wrung it
hard, and exclaimed impetuously--

"How I wish I was like you, Edwin! If all my friends were like you, I
should never get into these rows."

"Nay, Eric," said Russell, "it's I who ought to envy you; you are no end
cleverer and stronger, and you can't think how glad I am that we are
friends."

They parted by Mr Williams's door, and Russell walked home sad and
thoughtful; but Eric, barely answering his brother's greeting, rushed up
to his room, and, flinging himself on his bed, brooded alone over the
remembrance of his disgrace. Still nursing a fierce resentment, he felt
something hard at his heart, and, as he prayed neither for help nor
forgiveness, it was pride and rebellion, not penitence, that made him
miserable.

VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER SIX.

HOME AFFECTIONS.

Keep the spell of home affection
Still alive in every heart;
May its power, with mild direction,
Draw our love from self apart,
Till thy children
Feel that thou their Father art.
_School Hymn_.

"I have caught such a lot of pretty sea-anemones, Eric," said little
Vernon Williams, as his brother strolled in after morning school; "I
wish you would come and look at them."

"Oh, I can't come now, Verny; I am going out to play cricket with some
fellows directly."

"But it won't take you a minute; do come."

"What a little bore you are. Where are the things?"

"Oh, never mind, Eric, if you don't want to look at them," said Vernon,
hurt at his brother's rough manner.

"First, you ask me to look, and then say `never mind,'" said Eric
impatiently; "here, show me them."

The little boy brought a large saucer, round which the crimson
sea-flowers wer