Flushing at this reminder of his uncouth appearance, the lad made his excuses and started for his room.
"You're more than forgiven," smiled Sallie Ayres, and from this remark the boy realized that the result of the affair with Bart had been made known to his mother and guests.
No sooner had Fred left the room than the girls offered to assist Mrs. Markham in placing the food on the table.
"I say, Mrs. Markham, isn't there something we fellows can do, too?" asked Sandow, following the girls to the kitchen. "We don't want to be left in there alone."
"Let's make them put on aprons and wait on the table," suggested Dorothy.
But Mrs. Markham laughingly protested, and so the boys were forced to content themselves with watching the preparations.
"Oh, I wish we had something funny to put at Fred's plate," exclaimed Margie, when the food was on the table. "Haven't you anything you can think of, Mrs. Markham?"
"Dear me, I don't believe I have," replied the youth's mother, after a moment's reflection.
"Bronson's got something," announced Sandow. "He made me wait for him on the way over."
Expectantly the eyes of the others were turned upon their new schoolmate.