"That's so," said Jasper, in huge satisfaction, and running over to set some books on his shelves; "good for Doctor Fisher that he won't let me go back till the middle of the term! But I have to dig at these, though, else I'll flunk when I do get there," as he crammed the last book into place.
"But you're not to go at them before next week, Jasper," remonstrated Ben, in alarm, and hurrying over to him, "you know Papa Doctor said so; you know he did!"
"Oh, I won't have a bout with them until then," promised Jasper. "But after that—then says I, why, I've simply got to. Well now, Ben, there's Pip!" He whirled around to regard Ben anxiously.
"I know it," said Ben, with a long face.
"I suppose the little chap has got to go back and face those boys," said Jasper, ruefully.
Ben swung off on his heel and walked up and down the long apartment. "You know just as well as you want to, Jasper King," he said, coming up to stand squarely in front of the tall boy, "how it will be when Pip gets back there."
"Yes, I know; but perhaps the boys will treat him better now," said Jasper, yet he looked uneasy.
"Yes, for a while," said Ben, "I think they will;" then he burst out with honest indignation, "but there are enough boys there who'll be at their mean tricks soon enough, as long as you won't be on hand to make them stand round,—you know that, Jasper, as well as you want to."
"Well, Pip is different now," said Jasper, determined to find all the bright aspect possible to the case.
"I know he is," assented Ben, pounding his hand on the table, "ever so much more like a boy, but that will soon be taken out of him, get him back there without you, or any one who really cares a row of pins about him."