This reference to his lessons seemed to turn the scale. "What does it matter to you about my lessons?" he said, in a grumbling tone. "I wish I had never heard of your blessed lessons and scholarship; for now I shall never have a minute to myself. There'll be no time for play, no time for—"
"Why, Tom, what has happened,—what do you mean?" asked his sister in some concern.
"What did you want to go and get that scholarship for? It's just sent the whole school scholarship mad, and Potter's as bad as anybody now!"
"What do you mean?" asked Elsie, thinking her brother would burst into a merry laugh the next minute, and tell her of some further congratulations he had received on her success.
But Tom only glared as she looked smilingly at him, in anticipation of more pleasant words. "I tell you this; I won't do it for any of them!" he burst out at last. "And they may say what they like, and so may you."
"Won't do what?" inquired Elsie, feeling greatly puzzled.
"Why, I'm not going to swat up for a scholarship, like you did, to please anybody."
"O Tom, would you have a chance of getting one, do you think?" said Elsie earnestly. "Would Mr. Potter help you? There are scholarships for boys, you know, as well as for girls," she went on; "and mother would be so pleased if you got one too."
"Oh, I'll please mother and father too, never fear; but it won't be by getting a scholarship," grunted Tom. "I'm not going to worry my life out, morning, noon, and night, over that, when I ought to be at play. One in a family is enough, I reckon."
"Oh, Tom, I do wish you would try," said Elsie; "everybody says you are clever."