"Is it possible ?" he thought.

"Oh Eric! can that face be the face of a thief ?" The prayer-bell dispelled his reverie.

Eric entered with the Rowlands, and sat in his accustomed place.

He had spent a pleasant, quiet evening, and, little knowing what had happened, felt far more cheerful and hopeful than he had done before, although he was still ignorant how to escape the difficulty which threatened him.
He couldn't help observing that as he entered he was the object of general attention; but he attributed it either to his playing that day, or to the circumstances in which he was placed by Billy's treachery, of which he knew that many boys were now aware.

But when prayers were over, and he saw that every one shunned him, or looked and spoke in the coldest manner, his most terrible fears revived.
He went off to his dormitory, and began to undress.