surface of a noble stream—strong, transparent, deep—and in its depths still undefiled. Indeed, there were no lees in Jan. And Heriot loved him; and they fell to talking for the last time (and almost the first) of old Thrale's sermon on the Sunday after the Old Boys' Match, and the curious fact that he meant Jan to be there, that Heriot himself had come to fetch him; that was when Jan hid behind the door, little dreaming that Evan had owned up everything on learning what had happened.
"I might have known he would!" said Jan fondly. "It was only a question of time; but you say he didn't hesitate an instant? He wouldn't! But thank goodness he didn't go and make bad worse like I did for him. It would have killed him to get expelled; he says it was the bare thought that very nearly did, as it was."
Jan did not see that was a confession he could not have made, or have had to make, about himself; and Heriot did not point it out to him. Presently Chips came in from the Sanatorium. He reported Evan as convalescent in body and mind, and so appreciative of the verses on the Old Boys' Match in the July Mag. that he was getting them framed with the score.
"We've been talking about what you fellows get out of a school like this," said Heriot. "If you ever take to your pen, I think you may owe us more than most, Carpenter; but there was one man once who said what we're all three probably thinking to-night. Here's his little book of verses. I've had a copy bound for each of you. Here they are."
The little books were bound in the almost royal blue of the Eleven sash and cap-trimming. Carpenter had scarcely opened his when he exclaimed, "Here's an old friend!" and read out:
