On both sides of the table midway were a number of seats, being just enough to accommodate Frank’s party and the captive freshman. In short order they were ready to sit down, and then, at an order from the master, all did so.
The moment they were seated, a clatter and uproar began. A hundred questions were fired at Frank, and the students were like a lot of boys on a spree. No one spoke to Ready, and he looked around with interest, keeping his surprise well concealed. This was not what he had expected, but he did not let on that he was startled or astonished by anything. The students fell to eating of the lunch, and it seemed plain that some of them were pretty hungry. They joked and laughed.
“It’s like old times to be back here,” declared Frank. “I did not know that the order still existed.”
“It will always exist as long as freshmen exist,” declared Ned Noon. “It exists on freshmen.”
Seeing all the others eating, Ready, who was feeling rather hungry himself, reached out and took a sandwich from a pile on a plate before him. This he lifted to his mouth, but, without a word, his neighbor on the right took it from his hand and put it back on the plate.
“Refuse me!” gasped Jack. “What is the matter with it?”
No one seemed to give him any further attention. The eating went on, amid a chatter of talk and laughter.
Again Jack reached out and took a sandwich, lifting it to his lips, meanwhile keeping his eye on his right-hand neighbor. The fellow on his right did not seem to observe him.
“Here’s where I fill my sack,” thought Jack.
Just then the fellow on his left took the sandwich from him and again restored it to the plate.