It was a hard thing for the boys to get out of their warm beds when the rising bell sounded the next morning. But there was no help for it, and they washed and dressed in a hurry, cheered by the thought of breakfast waiting for them.
Several tables were spread in the large bright dining-room. One of them was reserved for Dr. Raymond and his family, together with the head teachers. The boys were ranged about the others, with a junior instructor sitting at the head of each to keep order. But his duties were light, for the boys were so intent upon dispatching their food that they had little time left for mischief. Each kept a wary eye on his plate, however, for special dainties had a way sometimes of vanishing mysteriously, and “eternal vigilance” was the price of pie.
The morning was frosty but sunny, and after they had finished their meal, the boys lost no time in getting outdoors. There was little to be done on the first day except to gather in the classrooms for a few minutes and have their lessons assigned for the following day.
“Any new fellows here this term, Skeets?” Bobby asked, as the latter strolled with him and Fred on the hard snowy path in front of the main building.
“Two or three came in yesterday, I heard,” answered Skeets, “but I’ve only met one of them so far. His name’s Tom Hicksley.”
“What kind of fellow does he seem to be?” asked Fred.
“I don’t care for him very much,” replied Skeets. “That is, judging by his looks. But you can’t always tell by that. There he is now,” he added, as a boy approached them.
Fred and Bobby looked first at the newcomer and then at each other.
“My! it’s the fellow we squelched for teasing the old soldier on the train!” gasped Bobby.