“But I’ve as good as told him I’d go, mother,” he pleaded.

“You had no right to do that,” rejoined Mrs. Pell. “You wouldn’t be in your element at all in the company of his friends, and of course you are sure to meet a great many of them.”

“I’m in my element in his company. He’s had me over there every day since we got acquainted. Besides, just think, I’ve never been to New York in my life since I was a baby, and this will be a splendid chance for me to see it. I can pay all my own expenses, so I needn’t be under obligations to him. Please, mother; I didn’t go on that trip with the Bowmans and now after school commences I shan’t have another chance.”

But Mrs. Pell was firm. She was a woman quick to discern character and she had seen enough of Dudley Harrington through the windows to conclude that he was not the sort of person to whom she wished to intrust an impulsive boy like Rex for two or three days. She chided herself now for having permitted the intimacy to go as far as it had.

Rex knew that it was useless to say more, and presently went to his room.

Here he threw himself on his sofa and brooded over his troubles. It seemed to him that he was the most unlucky fellow that ever lived. He never could have what he wanted. Even the money that he imagined was going to bring so much happiness failed to keep to the agreement, as he looked upon it.

“But just wait till I’m a little older,” he told himself. “I’ll make up for lost time then.”

Still, this would not help him out of his present slough of despond. He thought of how lonesome he should be after Harrington went away the next day. He could have Scott or Charlie Minturn up to see him, to be sure, but somehow, since he had known Harrington, these old friends had not seemed so entertaining to him as they once had.

“And that trip to New Haven would bridge over the time nicely till school opens,” he told himself. “I don’t see why mother won’t let me go.”

But he knew perfectly well what the reason was. He realized that Harrington had habits which none of his associates had ever had. But what of it?