Ah Eric! moodiness and petulance cannot save you, but prayerfulness would; one word, Eric, at the throne of grace--one prayer before you go down among the boys, that God in his mercy would wash away, in the blood of his dear Son, your crimson stains, and keep your conscience and memory clean.
The boy knelt down for a few minutes, and repeated to himself a few formal words.

Had he stayed longer on his knees, he might have given way to a burst of penitence and supplication--but he heard Bull's footstep, and getting up, he ran down stairs to breakfast; so Eric did not pray.
Conversations did not generally drop so suddenly in dormitory No.7.

On the contrary, they generally flashed along in the liveliest way, till some one said "Good night;" and then the boys turned off to sleep.

Eric knew this, and instantly conjectured that it was only a sort of respect for him, and ignorance of the manner in which he would consider it, that prevented Duncan and the rest from taking any further notice of Bull's remark.

It was therefore no good disburdening his mind to any of them; but he determined to speak about the matter to Russell in their next walk.
They usually walked together on Sunday.