safe
horse. But my high-spirited boy laughed this to scorn. "And perhaps
he'll play you some trick," added Trevor. But Trevorsham was still
undaunted in his self-will, till Trevor resolutely announced his
determination, if nothing else would stop it, of going at once to Fulk,
and informing him.

The boy endured all the rage and scorn that a threat so contrary to all
schoolboy codes of honour and friendship might deserve. I believe
Alured struck him, but at any rate Trevor Lea gained his point, though
at the cost of a desperate quarrel.

Alured held aloof and sulked at him for the remaining fortnight at
home, and only vouchsafed the explanation to us that "Lea was a horrid
little sneak, and he had done with him."

They did not make it up till they met in the same house at Eton, and
then, though Trevor was placed far above Alured, they became as
friendly as ever. In fact, I believe, Alured, having imprudently
denominated himself by his full title, was having it kicked out of him,
when the fortunate possessor of the monosyllabic name came and stood by
him and made common cause, to the entire renewing of love.

Poor Trevor! his was a dreary home. His mother loved him passionately,
but she was an anxious, worn, disappointed woman, always craving,
restless and expectant of something, and Perrault was always tormenting
her for money. He was deeply in debt, and though he could not touch
the bulk of her fortune--neither, indeed, could she, as it was conveyed
to trustees--he was always demanding money of her, and bullying her;
while matters grew worse and worse, and they were in danger of having
to let Spinney Lawn and go to live abroad.

As to keeping Trevor at Eton that was becoming impossible. At
Christmas the tutor consulted Fulk about how he should get Lea's bills
paid, and intimated that he must not return unless this were done.

And poor Trevor himself had little comfort except with us. We
encouraged him to come to us, for we had all come to have a very real
love for the dear lad himself, and we saw he was unhappy at home;
besides that, it was the only way of keeping Alured contented.

Trevor had entirely left off inviting Alured to Spinney Lawn. Partly,
he was too gentlemanly and good a boy not to be ashamed of the men who
hung about the stables; and besides, we now perceive that the same
awful impression that was on Emily Deerhurst was upon him, and that he
had a sense that Trevorsham was regarded in a