"I have a bad cold, Roland; I don't know how it came, but I did not feel it until you came into the room." Roland smiled, for Dr. Kingsley did not like it to be known what a warm sympathetic heart beat under that cold, and somewhat stern exterior. Roland's position, this year, was a happy one; and Edmund was about as much the gainer as he. Rooming together, Roland's powerful example was a strong incentive to the young man; and though often tempted to relax, what at first was a severe task, became first a habit, then a pleasure. A secret plot for some forbidden pleasure was again agitating among the wild ones. "You need not ask Ned Norris to join us," said one of his former companions, "he's among the saints now; he dare not say that his life is his own when Roland Bruce is about. I don't care much about his company, but it is deucedly inconvenient to miss his purse, it was always open in former days--but old 'Boots' has the charge of him now, and there is no use of asking him to join this spree." "Do you dare call him 'Boots' again?" said Stanley, doubling his fist, "I told you all that I'd knock the first fellow down that insults Roland Bruce; there is not one here fit to wipe his shoes." "How came you to turn round so soon, Stanley? you were among the most bitter of his enemies," said Thornton. "When you all stood off from me as if I were a leper, Roland Bruce quietly, nobly took care of me; he watched me on my sick bed, as if I had been his friend, instead of his enemy; and do you think that I'll ever hear you speak against such a fellow as that?" The chief offender slunk away, evidently frightened. "You never told me so, Stanley; it must have been before I came." "I tell you now, Brown, Roland shall be treated as a gentleman, so long as I am in this college; so clear out, or I may knock you down." Brown crawled away, and Roland was everywhere in the ascendant. Many envied him his quiet superiority; but all respected the studious youth that was carrying off so many of the honors. His path was henceforth a pleasant one, until one morning, whom should he see among the new students but Harry Castleton and Charles Davenport! Roland's appearance was that of a gentleman; for, although he had not the changes which some had, he always contrived to appear genteel. After breakfast, Roland advanced to the young men, and politely extended his hand. Charles, with a supercilious air, turned on his heel, saying, "You are mistaken, sir; we do not know you." Roland had acted the part of a gentleman and a Christian, and he left the young men to imagine that they had humbled him. They soon observed his intimacy with Edmund Norris, whose family they had met elsewhere. Determined to annoy him still farther, they sought the first opportunity of speaking alone. "Do you know this young Bruce?" said Harry. "Yes, sir, I have good cause to know him; he has saved me from many a false step and wicked companion."