It might be the best thing for him too, for if those two have got hold of him he's sure to go wrong.

I can't do anything to keep him from them.

And yet, I promised old Wynd--I must try; I might help to keep him straight.

God help me!" Is the reader astonished that the captain of a great public school should so far forget himself as to utter a secret prayer in his own study about such a matter as the correction of a young scapegrace?
It _was_ an unusual thing to do, certainly; and probably if Wyndham had known what was passing in the captain's mind he would have thought more poorly of his brother's friend than he did.

But I am not quite sure, reader, whether Riddell was committing such an absurdity as some persons might think; or whether you or I, or any other fellow in a similar position, would be any the worse for forgetting ourselves in the same way.