“What are we going to do?” demanded Hope anxiously.
“I don’t see that there’s anything we can do,” answered Gil. “I’m sorry he’s going, for he really isn’t a bad sort. But he’d never get on here because the fellows have found out that they can do just as they please with him. If he’d put his foot down hard the first day and made Bull and a few of the others walk the plank he wouldn’t have had any trouble. As it is now I guess he’s wise to quit.”
“That’s all well enough for you,” demurred Jim, “but we can’t afford to lose a lodger. So, by hooky, something’s just got to be done!”
“If we went up and asked him to stay don’t you think perhaps he would?” asked Hope.
“Sure! He’d do anything to oblige us,” replied Poke ironically.
“You needn’t be sarcastic,” murmured Hope aggrievedly. “I don’t think you’ve been very nice about it anyway, Poke.”
There was a silence after this that lasted until Jeffrey, who had been staring thoughtfully into the dusk, said:
“Look here, if some one can induce Nancy to turn over a new leaf now and—er—buck up, you know, he won’t have much trouble, will he? It isn’t too late, is it?”
“I’m afraid so,” said Gil.
“I’m not,” said Poke. “But he wouldn’t do it; he doesn’t know how.”