"Father knows all about that fuss we had at school to-day," said he, as soon as he entered the room. "He heard some of the students talking about it at the post office. It beats me how many fellows there are in the world who can't be easy until they tell all they know."
"Well, what of it?" inquired Frank shortly.
"What of it!" repeated Leon. "Father gave me the worst going-over I ever had in my life. He praised Oscar up to the skies, and told me, in so many words, that I would do well to take him for a model."
"The idea!" exclaimed Frank. "A market-shooter! He is a pretty model for any decent boy!"
"It has always been so," said Leon bitterly. "Father sees something good in everybody except me; and if I am so awful bad, he won't feel sorry when I get out of his sight."
After this, Leon seemed to throw all his fears and scruples to the winds. He had got it into his head that he was a badly abused boy, that he would be in trouble as long as he remained in Eaton, and he was impatient to get out into the world where he could do as he pleased without any fear of being taken to task for his misdeeds.
Mr. Fuller remained in Eaton for nearly two weeks, and Frank, who did not think it safe to attempt to carry out his plans until his father was well on his way toward home, fumed and fretted all the day.
During that time the two discontented boys went to school regularly—it was dangerous to play truant now that that new rule had gone into operation—and if they learned nothing else, they did learn these four things:
That Oscar Preston's reputation had been cleared; that Mr. Smith had apologized and offered to make all the amends in his power; that Oscar and Sam Hynes had made heroes of themselves by saving a man from drowning; and that the man was rich, and was going to do something for Oscar.
They were not, however, acquainted with the fact that the rescued man had already done something for the young taxidermist, in that he had offered him a hundred dollars a month and expenses to procure specimens for the university museum.