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he was surprised to find himself very comfortable on the whole； and
able to dismiss repentance as well as terror。 His many underhand
ways with Richard had taken away the tenderness of his conscience；
though his knowledge of what was right was clear； and he was quite
ready to accept the feeling prevalent at Stoneborough； that truth was
not made for schoolboys。
The axiom was prevalent； but not universal； and parties were running
high。 Norman May； who as head boy had； in play…hours； the
responsibility； and almost the authority of a master； had taken
higher ground than was usual even with the well…disposed； and felt it
his duty to check abuses and malpractices that his predecessors had
allowed。 His friend； Cheviot； and the right…minded set； maintained
his authority with all their might； but Harvey Anderson regarded his
interference as vexatious； always took the part of the offenders； and
opposed him in every possible way； thus gathering as his adherents
not only the idle and mischievous； but the weak and mediocre； and；
among this set； there was a positive bitterness of feeling to May；
and all whom they considered as belonging to him。
In shielding Tom May and leading him to deceive； the younger Anderson
had gained a conquestin him the Mays had fallen from that pinnacle
of truth which was a standing reproach to the average Stoneborough
codeand； from that time； he was under the especial patronage of his
friend。 He was taught the most ingenious arts of saying a lesson
without learning it； and of showing up other people's tasks； whispers
and signs were directed to him to help him out of difficulties； and
he was sought out and put forward whenever a forbidden pleasure was
to be enjoyed by stealth。 These were his stimulants under a heavy
bondage； he was teased and frightened； bullied and tormented；
whenever it was the fancy of Ned Anderson and his associates to make
his timidity their sport； he was scorned and ill…treated； and driven；
by bodily terror； into acts alarming to his conscience； dangerous in
their consequences； and painful in the perpetration； and yet； among
all his sufferings； the little coward dreaded nothing so much as
truth； though it would have set him free at once from this wretched
tyranny。
Excepting on holidays； and at hours when the town…boys were allowed
to go home； there were strict rules confining all except the sixth
form to their bounds； consisting of two large courts； and an
extensive field bordered by the river and the road。 On the opposite
side of the bridge was a turnpike gate； where the keeper exposed
stalls of various eatables； very popular among the boys； chiefly
because they were not allowed to deal there。 Ginger…beer could also
be procured； and there were suspicions that the bottles so called
contained something contraband。
〃August；〃 said Norman； as they were coming home from school one
evening； 〃did I see you coming over the bridge？〃
Tom would not answer。
〃So you have been at Ballhatchet's gate？ I can't think what could
take you there。 If you want tarts； I am sure poor old Betty's are
just as good。 What made you go there？〃
〃Nothing；〃 said Tom。
〃Well； mind you don't do it again； or I shall have to take you in
hand； which I shall be very sorry to do。 That man is a regular bad
character； and neither my father nor Dr。 Hoxton would have one of us
have anything to do with him； as you know。〃
Tom was in hopes it was over； but Norman went on。 〃I am afraid you
are getting into a bad way。 Why won't you mind what I have told you
plenty of times before； that no good comes of going after Ned
Anderson； and Axworthy； and that set。 What were you doing with them
to…day？〃 But； receiving no answer； he went on。 〃You always sulk
when I speak to you。 I suppose you think I have no right to row you；
but I do it to save you from worse。 You can't never be found out。〃
This startled Tom； but Norman had no suspicion。 〃If you go on； you
will get into some awful scrape； and papa will be grieved。 I would
not； for all the world； have him put out of heart about you。 Think
of him； Tom； and try to keep straight。〃 Tom would say nothing； only
reflecting that his elder brother was harder upon him than any one
else would be； and Norman grew warmer。 〃If you let Anderson junior
get hold of you； and teach you his tricks； you'll never be good for
anything。 He seems good…natured now； but he will turn against you；
as he did with Harry。 I know how it is； and you had better take my
word； and trust to me and straightforwardness； when you get into a
mess。〃
〃I'm in no scrape；〃 said Tom； so doggedly； that Norman lost patience；
and spoke with more displeasure。 〃You will be then； if you go out of
bounds； and run Anderson's errands； and shirk work。 You'd better
take care。 It is my place to keep order； and I can't let you off for
being my brother； so remember； if I catch you going to Ballhatchet's
again； you may make sure of a licking。〃
So the warning closedTom more alarmed at the aspect of right； which
he fancied terrific； and Norman with some compunction at having lost
temper and threatened； when he meant to have gained him by kindness。
Norman recollected his threat with a qualm of dismay when； at the end
of the week； as he was returning from a walk with Cheviot； Tom darted
out of the gate…house。 He was flying across the bridge； with
something under his arm； when Norman laid a detaining hand on his
collar； making a sign at the same time to Cheviot to leave them。
〃What are you doing here？〃 said Norman sternly； marching Tom into the
field。 〃So you've been there again。 〃What's that under your
jacket？〃
〃Onlyonly what I was sent for；〃 and he tried to squeeze it under
the flap。
〃What is it？ a bottle〃
〃Onlyonly a bottle of ink。〃
Norman seized it； and gave Tom a fierce angry shake； but the
indignation was mixed with sorrow。 〃Oh； Tom； Tom； these fellows have
brought you a pretty pass。 Who would have thought of such a thing
from us！〃
Tom cowered； but felt only terror。
〃Speak truth；〃 said Norman； ready to shake it out of him； 〃is this
for Anderson junior？〃
Under those eyes； flashing with generous； sorrowful wrath； he dared
not utter another falsehood； but Anderson's threats chained him； and
he preferred his thraldom to throwing himself on the mercy of his
brother who loved him。 He would not speak。
〃I am glad it is not for yourself；〃 said Norman； 〃but do you remember
what I said； in case I found you there again？〃
〃Oh！ don't； don't！〃 cried the boy。 〃I would never have gone if they
had not made me。〃
〃Made you？〃 said Norman； disdainfully； 〃how？〃
〃They would have thrashed methey pinched my fingers in the box
they pulled my earsoh； don't〃
〃Poor little fellow！〃 said Norman； 〃but it is your own fault。 If you
won't keep with me； or Ernescliffe； of course they will bully you。
But I must not let you offI must keep my word！〃 Tom cried； sobbed；
and implored in vain。 〃I can't help it；〃 he said； 〃and now； don't
howl！ I had rather no one knew it。 It will soon be over。 I never
thought to have this to do to one of us。〃 Tom roared and struggled；
till； releasing him； he said； 〃There； th