"Why, hello, old chap! How are you?"
Harry immediately recognized his old acquaintance, Edward Hopkins. He did not appear particularly glad to see him, however.
"Say, old fellow, you don't seem ready to shed tears of joy at seeing your old chum," remarked Ed, in a jovial tone, sitting down beside him.
Harry said nothing, but sat looking into the fire.
"Look here, now, Hal; you do look a little hard up. Haven't been getting along so well lately, I guess?"
"No, I haven't," said Harry, without turning around.
"Well, listen to me," resumed Ed. "The old proverb, 'a friend in need is a friend indeed,' is true, isn't it?"
"What of it?" questioned Harry, still apathetic.
"Just this," replied Ed, bringing his hand heavily down on his knee, "that I'm going to be a friend to you now."
Harry smiled incredulously. His confidence in the friendship of such a flashily-dressed fellow as Ed was, had been shaken.