"I don't think any one wants to take away our spare time, Frank."
"I don't know what you call it then, Walter, I'm sure. There we leave off work at six, and then, instead of having the evening to ourselves, we are asked to make ourselves tidy, and go to the evening school at seven! I should like to know where our spare time goes to!"
"It's only three times a week, Frank."
"And that's three times too many! No; I'm for liberty."
A young man, two or three years older than Frank, passed by at that moment, and whispered something in his ear.
"All right," said Frank, "I'll—"
"Hush!—" And the newcomer looked distrustfully at Walter as he walked away whistling.
"Why don't you speak to Tom Haines, Walter?" said Frank. "You used to be friends at one time."
"Mother doesn't think Tom a good companion for me," replied Walter, "and she says—"
"Are you always going to mind what your mother says?" cried Frank, in a mocking tone.