Mr. Horton willingly agreed to keep the records of the Antis separately, but he told the boys that that could make no real difference, since the section must rank according to its marks as a whole.
CHAPTER VII.
VERY NEARLY AN ACCIDENT.
Hamlin’s failure to induce the L. A. O.’s to admit Clark to their society made him the more determined to show all possible friendliness himself towards his lonely schoolfellow, and he made it a point to walk to and from school with him, or to have a chat with him at recess, as frequently as he could. Clark appreciated the other’s kindness, and understood perfectly well that it was through no lack of effort on Hamlin’s part that he—Clark—was not asked to join the L. A. O.’s.
Several other boys, Gordon and Graham among them, began to follow Hamlin’s example so far as to nod and say a pleasant word to Clark now and then, but he felt that they were doing this merely to please Hamlin, and did not respond very cordially to their advances.
As to Freeman—Clark’s attempts to draw him away from the Crawford crowd had signally failed. Freeman seemed to have lost all desire for his cousin’s companionship, and coldly and even curtly refused all Clark’s invitations to walk or talk with him.
Clark had little time and less inclination in these days for visiting, but he went occasionally to see his aunt and cousins. One afternoon he found Edith alone, and looking so pale and troubled that he could not help asking what was the matter.
The girl’s lip trembled, and her blue eyes filled with tears as she answered simply, “I’m so worried about Ray, Stanley.”
“What about him, Edith? Is it anything in which I can help you?” he asked kindly.
“Oh, I don’t know. He is so changed lately. He used to be the dearest boy, and now, since he has been with Crawford and Henderson so much, he is so different. He doesn’t seem to care for mamma or me, and he goes out evenings and won’t tell us where he goes, and he seems to have lost all interest in his school work. His last report was the poorest he has ever had.”