But Russell's influence worked on him powerfully, and tended to counteract a multitude of temptations.
Among other dangerous lessons, Upton had taught Eric to smoke; and he was now one of those who often spent a part of his holidays in lurking about with pipes in their mouths at places where they were unlikely to be disturbed, instead of joining in some hearty and healthy game.

When he began to "learn" smoking, he found it anything but pleasant; but a little practice had made him an adept, and he found a certain amount of enjoyable excitement in finding out cozy places by the river, where he and Upton might go and lounge for an hour to enjoy the forbidden luxury.
In reality he, like most boys, detested the habit; but it seemed a fine thing to do, and to some, at any rate, it was a refuge from vacuity.
Besides, they had a confused notion that there was something "manly" in it, and it derived an additional zest from the stringency of the rules adopted to put it down.

So a number of the boys smoked, and some few of them to such excess as to get them into great mischief, and form a habit which they could never afterwards abandon.
One morning of the Easter holidays, Eric, Montagu, and Russell started for an excursion down the coast to Rilby Head.

As they passed through Ellan, Eric was deputed to go and buy Easter eggs and other provisions, as they did not mean to be back for dinner.

In about ten minutes he caught up the other two, just as they were getting out of the town.
"What an age you've been buying a few Easter eggs," said Russell, laughing; "have you been waiting till the hens laid ?" "No; they are not the _only_ things I've got." "Well, but you might have got all the grub at the same shop." "Ay; but I've procured a more refined article.