His tone expressed his hopeless disgust.
Frank's hand was wrung till his arm ached, and he was told over and over that he would make a new record for Fardale Academy if he chose to enter the athletic contests in the spring.
"If he chooses!" shouted one enthusiastic fellow. "He'll have to enter, whether he chooses or not! You don't suppose we will let a fellow like him remain out of it, do you!"
"I knew you could do it, old man!" murmured Bart Hodge, his dark face flushed with pleasure. "You were bluffing all the while that you pretended to doubt."
"I wanted to see how much confidence you actually had in me," said Frank, with a smile.
"Well, you found out."
"Yes, and that gave me a great deal more of confidence in myself. I tell you it helps to know one has friends whose faith in him cannot be shaken, even when he seems to lose faith in himself."
"Where is Rains?"
"There he is. I wonder if he is satisfied?"
Paul was still quite alone, pretending to examine the spikes in the bottom of one of his shoes.