"Why, Joe, you fluffy ass," said Story affectionately, "you're the surest of the lot. Shut up—cheer us up instead."
"Look at that mound of jelly," said Hungerford peevishly, pointing to Regan. "Has he any nerves?"
"What's the use of fidgeting?" said Regan.
An hour later Hungerford stretched his arm nervously, rose and consulted the clock.
"Four-fifteen; let's hike over in about twenty minutes."
"All right."
"Say, I don't mind saying that I feel as though I were going to be taken out, stuck full of holes, sawed up, drawn and quartered and boiled alive. I feel like jumping on an express and running away."
Stover, remembering Joe's keen suffering at the spectacle back in freshman year, said gravely:
"You're sure, Joe. You'll go among the first. Come back with smelling salts for me. I've got to stand through the whole thing and grin like a Cheshire cat—that's de rigueur. Do you remember how bully Dudley was when he missed out? Funny—then I thought I had a cinch."
"If it was left to our class, you would, Dink," said Bob.