"It did that, and it tickled the rest of us, or rather some of us, mightily too. Tim will soon have to give you back your place on the nine."
"No, he'll not do that," replied Ward quickly. "Tim's got enough of the nine under his thumb to have his say, and I know he'd rather leave than have me on the team."
"But surely, Ward, after to-day's work you'll not object to Jack's proposal?"
"Jack's proposal? I don't know just what you mean."
"Why, that he and I should tell Tim that he must take you back or we'd leave the nine."
"No. I never should agree to that," replied Ward quietly. "I'd never want to get on the nine in that way. I'd stay off forever before I'd do that. Not that I don't thank you," he hastily added, as he saw an expression of genuine disappointment creeping over his room-mate's face. "It's mighty good of you and Jack, and I'll never forget it, either. But, you see, even if I were willing to go on in that way, Tim still has the most of the nine, and I think the most of the school too, on his side, and I think it would break up the team. And with the game coming on with the Burrs so soon now, that would never do, you see."
"Still, I wish you were on the nine, Ward," said Henry. "I want you, and the nine needs you."
"Oh, well," replied Ward, speaking far more lightly than he felt, "it'll all come out right in the end. Jordan's a hard road to travel, but I've got to take things as they come."
"You're doing great work in the classes, anyway, Ward. Dr. Gray told me the other night that your reports were great so far in the term."
"Did he say that?" said Ward eagerly, his hunger for praise returning in an instant.