“Won't? Why not?” The boys crowded around him on the playground, all games being deserted for this new excitement. “Why not, pray tell?”
“Of course he will,” said one boy decidedly. “Dr. Marks never'll keep him after this.”
“Yes he will too,” roared Van, glad he could tell the news first, but awfully disappointed that it must be that Jenkins was to stay, “for Joel got Dr. Marks to promise there shouldn't anything be done to Jenk. So there now!”
“What, not after locking that door! That was the worst.” The boys, two or three of them, took up the cry, “'Twas beastly mean.”
“Contemptible! Just like Jenk!” went all over the playground.
“Well, he isn't to go,” repeated Van with a sigh; “and Joel says he was as bad, because he went out at night to fight.”
“Why, he had to; Jenk dared him. And he couldn't have it out in the dormitory; you know he couldn't, Whitney,” said one of the boys in surprise.
“Oh dear! I know,” said Van helplessly. “Well, Joel says it's no matter that the racket was stolen out of his room, and—”
“No matter!” ejaculated the boys, a whole crowd of them swarming around him, “well, if that isn't monstrous!”
“Oh, Joel's afraid that Dr. Marks will expel Jenk,” Percy, very uncomfortable to have Joel blamed, made haste to say. “Don't you see?”