"Call it what you like. You regard yourself of too much importance."
"And I agree with Hal!" flashed Doris, to the surprise and delight of Darrell. "I’m sure he is as good as anybody, and should have a fair show. If he is kept off the eleven, he’ll know just who is to blame. Come, Hal, will you walk over to the drive with me?"
"With pleasure," he said, as he hastened to place himself at her side.
CHAPTER XXVII.
FRANK’S ADVICE.
The satisfaction of Hal Darrell was great as he walked away with Doris. He felt that he had shown Dick Merriwell up in style and convinced the girl that the fellow was unfair and selfish. How could he know that Doris had welcomed the opportunity to hurt Dick because she had been piqued by his cold greeting? Little did he understand the workings of her mind, but he was to learn that the ways of a girl are strange. As they walked away, he said:
"Now you are getting your eyes open, Doris. Now you begin to understand just how it is. You see I have no real show, because this selfish fellow Merriwell is bound that I shall not have one. I’m glad you spoke up and told him what you thought."
She was silent. When he looked at her she turned her face away.
"You saw how he took pains to spoil my plays," he went on. "He singled me out, and he did everything he could to show me up, just as his brother did. I was getting along too well with Burrows, and so Frank Merriwell himself went in against me. Then Dick Merriwell got hot when I tackled him and kept him from making a touch-down. He wanted to fight."
She looked at him suddenly, and there was a peculiar expression in her eyes. He went on:
“He’s a mean, selfish chap, and he wants to be the whole thing in a game. You saw how he acted, Doris, and——”[and——”]