The meeting of Stuart and Le Gette was extremely polite and formal. They walked back to the gymnasium together and compared schedules, finding that on every day save Tuesday it would be possible to get an hour together on the field. On Tuesday they fixed on a half hour, possibly forty minutes, following breakfast. They parted with mutual relief on the gymnasium steps.
There was a most enthusiastic cheer meeting that evening, and Stuart and Neil attended, although the former tried to get out of it. New songs and old songs were sung, every one who had the courage to face that sea of faces and could think of anything to say made a speech. There was wild and noisy applause on every provocation and the cheering was deafening. Neil, noting that Stuart’s name brought as vociferous a response as any, glowed proudly.
On their way out of the hall Stuart collided with Mr. Moffit and the instructor took him by the arm and led him aside. “You didn’t come back to report,” he accused smilingly. Stuart grinned. “I meant to, sir, but I couldn’t make it. I suppose you’ve heard——”
“Yes, and I was very glad, Harven. It is always a satisfaction to one to learn that one’s prophesies have been—er—correct. You see, I expected you to go back on the team and laid a wager with myself that you would. It pleases me to win. I thank you.”
Stuart laughed. “You took chances, sir. I didn’t think I would go back.”
“On the contrary, my boy, I was betting on a sure thing. I was rather ashamed to take that end of the wager: it was almost like cheating myself. You see, Harven, what we think and what we think we think are frequently very different thoughts. Well, the best of luck to you!” The instructor nodded and smiled and was borne on and Stuart joined Neil again. As he steadied the latter through the throng at the entrance he said with conviction:
“Miss Muffit’s a mighty decent old guy, Neil.”
“Sure,” agreed Neil. “Every one is when we think so.”
Stuart’s rôle as teacher of the gentle art of kicking field goals began the next forenoon. He had grimly determined to follow Mr. Haynes’s instructions and not spare the pupil, and, as they crossed to the second team gridiron, he announced: