“He can make it pretty hard for me in the department,” reminded Harry. “He gave me three demerits for nothing, and Miss Leonard thinks I deserved them. I know she does. He wasn’t even cross with me for anything when he did that. What do you suppose he’d do if he really was mad?”
“Try to get you fired, most likely.”
Harry nodded sadly. “Sometimes I think I’ll leave the store before anything happens, and try to get work in an office. I hate to give up my school, though. Miss Leonard is a splendid teacher. I’ve learned a good deal in the little time I’ve gone to school to her.”
“So have I. She makes a fellow feel as if he wanted to study. I don’t mind school so much now. But, Harry, you mustn’t leave the store. What would I do without my chum?” Teddy’s thin hand fastened upon Harry’s shoulder with a quick clutch of fellowship.
“I know. I’d miss you, too. Oh, I suppose I might as well stay and make the best of things. Mother is so pleased to think I can work and still go to school. Don’t say a word to her about Mr. Barton. I haven’t.”
“I won’t,” promised Teddy. “I wonder if your mother’ll like me!”
“Of course she will. She always likes my boy friends. You’ll like her. You can’t help it.”
“My mother says I am to bring you home with me to supper. Any night that suits you’ll suit us.”
“Does you mother——” Harry stopped. He was about to ask if Teddy’s mother had become interested in her son’s progress as a business boy. Then in fear of intruding upon what did not concern him, the rest of the question died on his lips.
Teddy cast a swift, sidelong glance at him from under his long heavy lashes. “My mother likes to hear about what happens to me in the store. I kept telling her things, just the way you said you told your mother. At first she didn’t seem to care, but now she does. We have lots of talks, and last week she stayed home with me every night but one. That was the night of her club meeting. She’s a vice-president, so she had to go to it.”