Now, the dozen or so were eagerly engaged in conversation.
"It's too bad Purcell won't join us," remarked Davis.
"Yes," nodded another fellow in the group; "he belongs with us."
"Oh, well," spoke up Bayliss, "if Purcell would rather be with the muckers, let him."
"Now, let's not be too rank, fellows," objected Hudson slowly. "I wouldn't call all the fellows muckers who don't happen to belong in our crowd."
"What would you call 'em then?" growled Bayliss angrily. "Time was when only the fellows of the better families expected to go to High School, on their way to college. Now, every day-laborer's son seems to think he ought to go to High School——-"
"And be received with open arms, on a footing of equality," sneered
Porter.
"It's becoming disgusting," muttered Bayliss. "Not only do these cheap fellows expect to go to the High School, but they actually want to run the school affairs."
"I suppose that's natural, to some extent," speculated Porter.
"Why?" demanded Bayliss, turning upon the last speaker in amazement.