eck table-cloth; a hard-seated
sofa covered with red stuff occupied one side, running up to the end,
and making a seat for one, or, by sitting close, for two, at the table;
and a good stout wooden chair afforded a seat to another boy, so that
three could sit and work together. The walls were wainscoted half-way
up, the wainscot being covered with green baize, the remainder with a
bright-patterned paper, on which hung three or four prints, of dogs'
heads, Grimaldi winning the Aylesbury steeplechase, Amy Robsart, the
reigning Waverley beauty of the day, and Tom Crib in a posture of
defence, which did no credit to the science of that hero, if truly
represented. Over the door were a row of hat-pegs, and on each side
bookcases with cupboards at the bottom; shelves and cupboards being
filled indiscriminately with school-books, a cup or two, a mousetrap,
and brass candlesticks, leather straps, a fustian bag, and some
curious-looking articles, which puzzled Tom not a little, until his
friend explained that they were climbing irons, and showed their use. A
cricket-bat and small fishing-rod stood up in one corner.

This was the residence of East and another boy in the same form, and had
more interest for Tom than Windsor Castle, or any other residence in the
British Isles. For was he not about to become the joint owner of a
similar home, the first place which he could call his own? One's own!
What a charm there is in the words! How long it takes boy and man to
find out their worth! how fast most of us hold on to them! faster and
more jealously the nearer we are to that general home into which we can
take nothing, but must go naked as we came into the world. When shall we
learn that he who multiplieth possessions multiplieth troubles, and that
the one single use of things which we call our own is that they may be
his who hath need of them?

"And shall I have a study like this too?" said Tom.

"Yes, of course, you'll be chummed with some fellow on Monday, and you
can sit here till then."

"What nice places!"

"They're well enough," answered East patronizingly, "only uncommon cold
at nights sometimes. Gower--that's my chum--and I make a fire with paper
on the floor after supper generally, only that makes it so smoky."

"But there's a big fire out in the passage," said Tom.

"Precious little good we get out of that though," said East; "Jones the
praepostor has the study at the fire end, and he has rigged up an iron
rod and gr