“Bliss!” answered Mr Noel in surprise. “What makes you like him so much? Is he not very backward and stupid?”
But Charlie would not hear a word against Bliss, and speaking with all the open trustfulness of a new boy, he exclaimed, “O sir, Bliss is an excellent fellow; I wish there were many more like him; he’s a capital fellow, sir, I like him very much; he’s the best fellow in the house, and the only one who stands by me when I am in trouble.”
“Well, I’m glad you’ve found one friend, Evson,” said Mr Noel; “no matter who he is.”
One way in which Bliss showed his friendship was by going privately to Kenrick, and complaining of the way in which Charlie was bullied. “Why don’t you interfere, Kenrick?” he asked.
“Interfere, pooh! It will do the young cub good; he’s too conceited, by half.”
“I never saw a little fellow less conceited, anyhow.”
Kenrick stared at him. “What business is it of yours, I should like to know?”
“It is business of mine; he is a good little fellow, and he’s only kicked because the others can’t make him as bad a lot as they are themselves; there’s that Wilton—”
“Shut up about Wilton, he’s a friend of mine.”
“Then more shame for you,” said Bliss.