“Helped to,” corrected Arthur in a growl. “I won’t take all the blame for it. Gee, but he’s a low-down little mucker, isn’t he? I didn’t think he’d do a thing like this, though. I wish he was a couple of years older so I could thrash him!”
“He deserves it,” said Gerald. “What will you do?”
Arthur considered a moment. Then,
“Nothing,” he sighed. “There’s nothing I can do but take my medicine. I might spank Harry, but it wouldn’t hurt him much and wouldn’t give me any especial pleasure. He’s just a little rat, that’s all he is. I wish I could get him out, but I guess they wouldn’t let him change now, so near the end of school. Well, it’s only about a month longer. Say, Gerald, I wonder if this will make any difference to you. Wonder if Collins will let you off now. He ought to.”
“Perhaps. Just the same, I’d rather have stayed on and not had this happen to you, Arthur.”
“Oh, well, what’s the difference? I can stand it.”
“It means that we lose five points in the Duals, though.”
“Hope we do. No, I don’t. I didn’t mean that. You’ll have to get Collins to let you off probation, Gerald, and go in and get those points yourself.”
But Gerald shook his head.
“I guess I won’t get on the team now, even if I do get off,” he said. “It’s too late.”