Still I determined I _would_ go to him, and I was rewarded.
"Is that Batchelor ?" I heard him whisper as I approached his bed.
"Yes," I answered, joyfully, and feeling half the battle over.
"Come in," said he, moving to make room for me.
"Oh no!" I said, in terror at the very idea.

"Suppose I fell asleep.
I'll kneel here, and then if any one comes I can crawl back." "What is it ?" Smith said, presently, after a long and awkward pause.
I was thankful that he broke the ice.
"Oh," I whispered, "aren't you jolly miserable here, I say ?" "Pretty!" said he.

"Aren't you ?" "Oh, yes! But the fellows are all so unkind to you." Smith gave a little bitter laugh.

"That doesn't matter," he said.
"Doesn't it?
I wish I was bigger, I'd back you up--and so will Flanagan, if you let him." "Thanks, old man!" said the new boy, putting his hand on my arm.

"It's not the fellows I mind, it's--" and here he pulled up.
"Old Henniker," I put in, in accents of smothered rage.
"Ugh!" said Smith; "she's awful!" But somehow it occurred to me the Henniker was not what Smith was going to say when he pulled up so suddenly just before.