compelled to grasp the bars of the grate bare-handed; and, what was
worse, he had been suspended outside a third story window by the
wrists, held by a schoolfellow of thirteen!

'But what was Griff about?' I demanded, with hot tears of
indignation.

'Oh, Win!--that's what they call him, and me Slow--he said it would
do me good. But I don't think it did, Eddy. It only makes my heart
beat fit to choke me whenever I go near the passage window.'

I could only utter a vain wish that I had been there and able to
fight for him, and I attacked Griff on the subject on the first
opportunity.

'Oh!' was his answer, 'it is only what all fellows have to bear if
there's no pluck in them. They tried it on upon me, you know, but I
soon showed them it would not do'--with the cock of the nose, the
flash of the eyes, the clench of the fist, that were peculiarly
Griff's own; and when I pleaded that he might have protected
Clarence, he laughed scornfully. 'As to Slow, wretched being, a
fellow can't help bullying him. It comes as natural as to a cat
with a mouse.' On further and reiterated pleadings, Griff declared,
first, that it was the only thing to do Slow any good, or make a man
of him; and next, that he heartily wished that Winslow junior had
been Miss Clara at once, as the fellows called him--it was really
hard on him (Griff) to have such a sneaking little coward tied to
him for a junior!

I particularly resented the term Slow, for Clarence had lately been