TJie H 07)16 of the Wolverene and Beaver. 1 3 



accident had hitherto prevented their meeting, for 

 the country seats of their respective fathers were 

 situated widely apart, but once thrown together 

 similarity of tastes soon firmly united them, ac- 

 quaintance grew into intimacy, and intimacy ripened 

 into a strong and durable friendship. It was during 

 a visit to Mr, Marshall's place in Lancashire, in 

 the Christmas holidays of 185 1, that the ice adven- 

 ture with which this chapter is opened took place. 

 Paul Gresham was then a lad of fifteen, tall, slight, 

 blue-eyed, but dark haired ; a pretty boy enough, 

 and likely, the women said, to grow into a remark- 

 ably handsome man. In disposition he was frank 

 and generous, though perhaps a trifle exacting 

 amongst his inferiors, the result of having had his 

 own way too much when a child. Three years at 

 Eton, however, had done wonders for him, and I 

 think I may safely say that Paul Gresham was 

 generally beloved. 



George Marshall was one year Paul's junior, and 

 looked up to the latter with a veneration that we 

 may seek in vain amongst any but schoolboys. 

 All lads seem to delight in setting up an idol, and 

 the hero thus exalted can (according to them) do 

 no wrong. That the object of this worship ever 

 did anything whatever to merit such devotion, I am 

 unable to ascertain, but have incontestable proof 



