IhavealreadydescribedtheSchool-houseprayers。Theywerethesameonthefirstnightasontheothernights，saveforthegapscausedbytheabsenceofthoseboyswhocamelate，andthelineofnewboyswhostoodalltogetheratthefarthertable——
ofallsortsandsizes，likeyoungbearswithalltheirtroublestocome，asTom’sfatherhadsaidtohimwhenhewasinthesameposition。Hethoughtofitashelookedattheline，andpoorlittleslightArthurstandingwiththem，andashewasleadinghimupstairstoNumber4，directlyafterprayers，andshowinghimhisbed。Itwasahuge，high，airyroom，withtwolargewindowslookingontotheSchoolclose。Thereweretwelvebedsintheroom。Theoneinthefarthestcornerbythefireplace，occupiedbythesixth-formboy，whowasresponsibleforthedisciplineoftheroom，andtherestbyboysinthelower-fifthandotherjuniorforms，allfagsforthefifth-formboys，ashasbeensaid，sleptinroomsbythemselves。Beingfags，theeldestofthemwasnotmorethanaboutsixteenyearsold，andwereallboundtobeupandinbedbyten。Thesixth-formboyscametobedfromtentoaquarter-pastatwhichtimetheoldvergercameroundtoputthecandlesout，exceptwhentheysatuptoread。
Withinafewminutesthereforeoftheirentry，alltheotherboyswhosleptinNumber4hadcomeup。Thelittlefellowswentquietlytotheirownbeds，andbeganundressing，andtalkingtoeachotherinwhispers；whiletheelder，amongstwhomwasTom，satchattingaboutononeanother’sbeds，withtheirjacketsandwaistcoatsoff。PoorlittleArthurwasoverwhelmedwiththenoveltyofhisposition。Theideaofsleepingintheroomwithstrangeboyshadclearlynevercrossedhismindbefore，andwasaspainfulasitwasstrangetohim。Hecouldhardlybeartotakehisjacketoff；however，presently，withaneffort，offitcame，andthenhepausedandlookedatTom，whowassittingatthebottomofhisbedtalkingandlaughing。
“Please，Brown，“hewhispered，“mayIwashmyfaceandhands？“
“Ofcourse，ifyoulike，“saidTom，staring；“that’syourwashhand-stand，underthewindow，secondfromyourbed。You’llhavetogodownformorewaterinthemorningifyouuseitall。“Andonhewentwithhistalk，whileArthurstoletimidlyfrombetweenthebedsouttohiswashhand-stand，andbeganhisablutions，therebydrawingforamomentonhimselftheattentionoftheroom。