Presently, when Gerald’s wounds were dressed, Dan persuaded him to tell his story. He had got over his tears and was looking rather depressed and ashamed of himself.
“I was coming up the hill toward the gymnasium,” began Gerald.
“What were you doing down there?” Dan asked.
“I—I was just taking a walk along by the river,” answered Gerald evasively.
Dan nodded. “Homesick,” he thought.
“I’m sorry you didn’t come back to the room,” he said. “I waited here for you some time. I wanted to take you over to see Loring and Dyer.”
“I don’t want to go there,” answered Gerald. “They don’t like me.”
“You’re mistaken. Tom asked me this afternoon to bring you over often. They’re nice fellows and I want you to like them. But never mind about that now. What happened when you were coming up from the river?”
“I met four or five fellows just this side of the tennis courts, near the little red building, you know.”