It was a bright moonlight night, and the autumn air was pleasant and cool. But Eric's first thought, as he dropped on to the ground, was one of shame that he should suffer his new friend, a mere child, so easily to tempt him into disobedience and sin. He had hardly thought till then of what their errand was to be, but now he couldn't help so strongly disapproving of it, that he was half inclined to turn back. He did not, however, dare to suggest this, lest Wildney should charge him with cowardice, and betray it to the rest. Besides, the adventure had its own excitement, the stars looked splendid, and the stolen waters were sweet. "I hope we shan't be seen crossing the playground," said Wildney. "My eye, shouldn't we catch it!" He was obviously beginning to be afraid; so Eric assumed an air of nonchalance, and played the part of protector. "Here, take my arm," he said; and as Wildney grasped it tight, instead of feeling angry and ashamed at having been misled by one so much his junior, Eric felt strongly drawn towards him by community of danger and interest. Reaching Ellan, it suddenly struck him that he did not know where they were going to buy the beer. He asked Wildney. "Oh, I see you're not half up to snuff," said Wildney, whose courage had risen; "I'll show you." He led to a little low public-house, whence tipsy songs were booming, and tapped at a side door three times. As they looked in they saw some sailors boozing in a dirty taproom, and enveloped in tobacco smoke. The side door was opened, and a cunning man held up a light to see who they were. "Hallo, Billy," said Wildney confidentially, "all serene; give us two bottles of beer--on tick, you know." "Yessir--d'reckly," said the man, with a hateful twinkle of the eyes. "So you're out for a spree," he continued, winking in a knowing way. "Won't you walk into the back parlour while I get them?" And he showed them into a dingy horrid room behind the house, stale with smoke, and begrimed with dust. Eric was silent and disgusted, but Wildney seemed quite at home. The man soon returned with the beer. "Wouldn't you like a glass of summat now, young gen'leman?" he asked in an insinuating way. "No, Billy! don't jabber--we must be off. Here, open the door." "Stop, I'll pay," said Eric. "What's the damage?" "Three shilling, sir," said the man. "Glad to see a new customer, sir." He pocketed the money and showed them out, standing to look after them with a malicious leer as they disappeared, and jerking his left thumb over his shoulder. "Faugh!" said Eric, taking a long breath as they got out again into the moonlight, "what a poisonous place! Good gracious, Charlie, who introduced you there?" "Oh, I don't think much of going _there_," said Wildney carelessly; "we go every week almost." "We! who?" "Oh, Brigson and a lot of us. We have a club there which we call `the Anti-muffs,' and that's our smoking-room." "And is that horrid beast the landlord?"