He ceased and awaited the verdict, looking eagerly from one to the other. There was a moment of silence. Surprise was written large on the faces of the three Academy men. Then Spurling stepped forward and held out his hand.
"Percy," said he, with a break in his voice, "I've always thought you had the right stuff in you, if you'd only give yourself half a chance. For one, I'll be more than pleased to have you stop. What do you say, boys?"
He glanced toward Lane and Stevens.
"Sure!" exclaimed Lane, heartily; and Stevens seconded him.
The boys shook hands all round; and they sat down to the table with good appetites. Everybody enjoyed the meal.
"Boys," said Jim as they got up at its close, "this is the best dinner we've had since we came out here."
Percy's heart warmed toward the speaker. He knew that it was not the food alone that made Jim say what he did.
It had been Percy's habit to smoke three or four cigarettes during the half-hour of rest all were accustomed to take after the noon meal. He went, as usual, to his suit-case, and this time took out, not merely one package, but all he had, including his sack of loose tobacco and two books of wrappers.
"Got a good fire, Filippo?" he inquired, approaching the stove.
A burst of flame answered him as he lifted the cover. In went the whole handful. He watched it burn for a moment before dropping the lid.