20 LUNCH IN THE WOOD.

only a Bible on his desk, which I do not think he
opens very often, though he would have Mr. Harding
think he does; but Maurice Gray has a Bible, and a
book of sermons, and some tracts. They are all for
show, of course. No boy would ever read such books,
[ am certain, unless he was compelled, and I would
not believe Maurice ever reads them if he told me so.
He is worse than Phil Graham, is he not?” |

“He may be,” answered Tom, “in some respects,
but he is a much pleasanter fellow than Philip, and
does not think half so much of himself. He loves a
good game so well, that I guess we can make some-
thing of him. I suppose he has been living in the
country with some old grandmother, who has made a
parting present of her whole library for a keepsake ;
but whether he reads such dry books or not, he is
nothing like Phil Graham. He has none of that
sanctified, long-faced, stiff look, that Phil has,”

“Well, time will show,” said Dick, “what we can
make of Maurice Gray. Though he is sociable and
talkative, he manages somehow to keep one at an awful
distance. I cannot understand it, for he is anything
but proud or haughty. I saw him to-day helping Peter
to lift a large box into the house, which was too heavy
for him. I am sure Phil Graham would have let Peter
break his back before he would raise a finger to assist
any servant boy.”

“There is one thing very certain,” said Tom, “and