That punishment's the best to hear
That follows soonest on the sin,
And guilt's a game where losers fare
Better than those who seem to win.
_Cov. Patmore_.
AT the beginning of this quarter, Eric and Duncan had succeeded to one
of the studies, and Owen shared with Montagu the one which adjoined it.
Latterly the small boys, in the universal spirit of disobedience, had
frequented the studies a good deal, but it was generally understood that
no study-boy might ask any one to be a regular visitor to his room
without the leave of its other occupant.