The holidays were approaching. Eric, to escape as much, as possible from his sorrow, plunged into the excitement of working for the examination, and rapidly made up for lost ground. He now spent most of his time with the best of his friends, particularly Montagu, Owen, and Upton; for Upton, like himself, had been much sobered by sorrow at their loss. This time he came out _second_ in his form, and gained more than one prize. This was his first glimpse of real delight since Russell’s death; and when the prize-day came, and he stood with his companions in the flower-decorated room, and went up amid universal applause to take his prize-books, and receive a few words of compliment from the governor who took the chair, he felt almost happy, and keenly entered into the pleasure which his success caused, as well as into the honors won by his friends. One outward sign only remained of his late bereavement--his mourning dress. All the prize-boys wore rosebuds or lilies of the valley in their button-holes on the occasion, but on this day Eric would not wear them. Little Wright, who was a great friend of theirs, had brought some as a present both to Eric and Montagu, as they stood together on the prize-day morning; they took them with thanks, and, as their eyes met, they understood each other’s thoughts. “No,” said Eric to Wright, “we won’t wear these to-day, although we have both got prizes. Come along I know what we will do with them.” They all three walked together to the little green, quiet churchyard, where, by his own request, Edwin had been buried. Many a silent visit had the friends paid to that grave, on which the turf was now green again, and the daisies had begun to bloom. A stone had just been placed to mark the spot, and they read-- SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF AN ORPHAN, WHO DIED AT ROSLYN SCHOOL, MAY 1847, AGED FIFTEEN YEARS. * * * * * “_Is it well with the child? It is well_.” 2 KINGS iv. 26. The three boys stood by the grave in silence and sorrow for a time. “He would have been the gladdest at our success. Monty,” said Eric; “let us leave the signs of it upon his grave.” And, with reverent hand, scattering over that small mound the choice rosebuds and fragrant lilies with their green leaves, they turned away without another word.