"How would this do for your clubroom, Theodore?" Mr. Scott inquired.
"This? Oh, this would be fine--but Mr. Scott, it would cost a pile for this."
"Rather more than for yours, of course, but now this is the way of it, Theodore. I liked your plan about the club, but I didn't like the idea of your giving up your own room to it, so I spoke to several gentlemen of my acquaintance about the matter, and they all wanted to have a hand in it. So they each gave me a sum of money, and then I interviewed your landlord and rented this room. He is going to have it whitewashed, and then we shall have the floor thoroughly scrubbed and outside blinds put on these sunny windows. Then we shall put in some tables and chairs and some plain pine shelves for the books and papers that we are going to collect from our friends, and if you like, some of us will give the boys a talk on current events once a week or so."
"What's current events?" interposed Theo, quickly.
"You'll soon find out. Now then, Theo, we must have somebody to take charge of this room. Can you do it?"
"Yes, indeed."
"You know that means that you must be here every evening in the week, from half past seven to ten o'clock. You'll want to be away sometimes, Theodore."
"Yes, I s'pose I will, but I'm ready to stay here all the same until night school begins again."
"Very well, then we'll let it be so, and we'll try to have the room ready for our opening in a week or two--as soon as we have enough books and papers to begin with." Mr. Scott locked the door as he spoke, and the two went downstairs.
Theodore's face was full of satisfaction over the promised reading-room, but it clouded a little as his teacher said,