a little better and honester there. You'll
find plenty to keep your hand in at Oxford, or wherever else you go.
And don't be led away to think this part of the world important, and
that unimportant. Every corner of the world is important. No man knows
whether this part or that is most so, but every man may do some honest
work in his own corner." And then the good man went on to talk wisely
to Tom of the sort of work which he might take up as an undergraduate,
and warned him of the prevalent University sins, and explained to him
the many and great differences between University and School life;
till the twilight changed into darkness, and they heard the truant
servants stealing in by the back entrance.

THE DOCTOR'S WORK.

"I wonder where Arthur can be," said Tom, at last, looking at his
watch; "why, it's nearly half-past nine already."

"Oh, he is comfortably at supper with the eleven, forgetful of his
oldest friends," said his master. "Nothing has given me greater
pleasure," he went on, "than your friendship for him; it has been the
making of you both."

"Of me, at any rate," answered Tom; "I should never have been here now
but for him. 'Twas the luckiest chance in the world that sent him to
Rugby, and made him my chum."

"Why do you talk of lucky chances?" said the master. "I don't know
that there are any such things in the world; at any rate there was
neither luck nor chance in that matter."

Tom looked at him inquiringly, and he went on: "Do you remember when
the Doctor lectured you and East at the end of one half-year, when you
were in the shell, and had been getting into all sorts of scrapes?"

"Yes, well enough," said Tom: "it was the half-year before Arthur
came."

"Exactly so," answered the master. "Now I was with him a few minutes
afterward, and he was in great distress about you two. And, after some
talk, we both agreed that you in particular wanted some object in the
School beyond games and mischief; for it was quite clear that you
never would make the regular school-work your first object. And so the
Doctor, at the beginning of the next half-year, looked out the best of
the new boys, and separated you and East, and put the young boy into
your study, in the hope that when you had somebody to lean on you, you
would begin to stand a little steadier yourself, and get manliness and
thoughtfulness. And I can assure you he has watched the experiment
ever since with great satisfaction. Ah! not one of y