hardson's troubled countenance looking for the truants from one of
the carriage windows, did he recollect his friend.

The platform was crowded with people, and though Walter could see the
rector, the latter could not distinguish him. If he had but worn the
red badge upon his shoulder, matters might even yet have gone well;
but, as it was, all Walter's efforts to shoulder his way through the
masses of people only brought him to the front of the platform as the
train steamed off!

At the last moment of all, Mr. Richardson's eye fell upon him, and he
called out something, but Walter could not hear what it was.

A feeling of despair came over him as he turned back towards the
steps. He had just remembered Chris.

"What _shall_ we do?" he thought. "I haven't a penny, and Chris can't
have much left either. Oh, there he is!" as he caught sight of the
other lad's ill-tempered, flushed face at the foot of the steps.

"You sneak!" cried Chris angrily; "what d'ye mean by leaving me in the
lurch like this?"

"But you wouldn't hurry, Chris; and as it is, we've lost the
train--that was ours that's just gone. What are we to do now? Have you
got any money?"

"No; you know I ain't, else I shouldn't ha' left the 'public' so
quick. It's all your fault," answered Chris savagely, the beer
mounting to his head more and more every minute, and he as usual
growing more unpleasant and ill-tempered as his power of
self-restraint grew weaker.

Walter was wise enough not to try arguing with or blaming him. He knew
it would be worse than useless.

It was now getting dark, and the station was being lighted up. By some
happy chance, Walter found his way out of it, and into the town, still
holding on to Chris.

"Leave go," said the latter roughly. "I ain't a baby, nor a
perambulator neither, to be pushed about by you."

He walked, or rather stumbled, along some way without help, Walter
feeling utterly disgusted both with himself and his friend.

"But he shan't be my friend no more after to-day--I've made up my mind
as to that," he said to himself. "Father's often told me he wasn't a
good companion, and I know I didn't believe him. I thought Chris was a
fine fellow, as really knew more than other folks--he always talked as
if he did--but I see now 'twas all talk, and he ain't near so sensible
nor so pleasant as some of the other chaps. I ain't going to tell
tales, but if Mr. Richardson could see him now, I don't think Chris
'ud stay muc