"What does the letter say?" inquired Grace suddenly, noticing that Fred still held the sheet of paper in his hand.
"Jove! I'd forgotten. Listen:
"My Dear Fred:
"Accept my heartiest congratulations upon your success in winning the Second Form Scholarship in Science. Knowing what this means to you, I am enclosing the amount of the prize. As formal announcement of the award will not be made until to-morrow morning, I request that you only impart the news of your success to your good mother until then. With best wishes,
"Richard Vining."
"Good for the Head. I always knew he was a brick!" exclaimed Buttons.
"It certainly is most considerate of him to relieve our suspense," said Mrs. Markham.
But in the hour of his happiness, Fred's thoughts were not of himself.
"I wonder if Bronson knew what this envelope contained," he mused. "It must have been rather hard on him if he did."
"Oh, don't worry about him," protested Margie. "This is an occasion of jubilation, not mourning."