d if I did not, I should eat the
corks for them! And Anderson junior called me names, and licked me. Look
there." He showed a dark blue-and-red stripe raised on the palm of his
hand. "I could not write well for it these three days, and Hawes gave me
double copies!"

"The cowardly fellows!" exclaimed Norman indignantly. "But you did not
go?"

"No, Anderson senior stopped them. He said he would not have the
Ballhatchet business begin again."

"That is one comfort," said Norman. "I see he does not dare not to keep
order. But if you'll only stay with me, August, I'll take care they
don't hurt you."

"Oh, June! June!" and he threw himself across his kind brother. "I am so
very sorry! Oh! to see you put down--and hear them! And you to lose the
scholarship! Oh, dear! oh, dear! and be in disgrace with them all!"

"But, Tom, do cheer up. It is nothing to be in such distress at. Papa
knows all about it, and while he does, I don't care half so much."

"Oh, I wish--I wish--"

"You see, Tom," said Norman, "after all, though it is very kind of you
to be sorry for not being able to get me out of this scrape, the thing
one wants you to be sorry about is your own affair."

"I wish I had never come to school! I wish Anderson would leave me
alone! It is all his fault! A mean-spirited, skulking, bullying--"

"Hush, hush, Tom, he is bad enough, but now you know what he is, you
can keep clear of him for the future. Now listen. You and I will make
a fresh start, and try if we can't get the Mays to be looked on as they
were when Harry was here. Let us mind the rules, and get into no more
mischief."

"You'll keep me from Ned Anderson and Axworthy?" whispered Tom.

"Yes, that I will. And you'll try and speak the truth, and be
straightforward?"

"I will, I will," said Tom, worn out in spirits by his long bondage, and
glad to catch at the hope of relief and protection.

"Then let us come home," and Tom put his hand into his brother's, as a
few weeks back would have seemed most unworthy of schoolboy dignity.

Thenceforth Tom was devoted to Norman, and kept close to him, sure that
the instant he was from under his wing his former companions would fall
on him to revenge his defection, but clinging to him also from real
affection and gratitude. Indolence and timidity were the true root of
what had for a time seemed like a positively bad disposition; beneath,
there was a warm heart, and sense of right, which had been almost
stifled fo