“And the rest of you?”
“No, the others don’t amount to much, sir. Nelson and Tom go to Hillton, and Bob there is in the high school at Portland.”
“I see. I have an instructor with me who graduated from Hillton; Mr. Hopkinson; ever hear of him? He was a good deal before your time, though, I guess.”
“Where is Oak Park, sir?” asked Tom.
“It’s near the north shore about midway between Hempstead and Cold Spring Harbor. A very attractive place, Oak Park.”
“And you’re the Principal, sir?”
“Yes, or Head Master, as we call it. The school isn’t a large one. We had thirty-two boys last year. But it’s been in existence only four years.”
“And—and the boy you hire, sir?” continued Tom with rising excitement, “cu-cu-cu-could he do any studying?”
“Why, yes, I should want him to. Are you thinking of applying?” asked Mr. Cozzens with a smile.
“No, sir, bu-bu-bu-but I—I—” He stopped and looked at Nelson and Bob and Dan, who, suddenly guessing what Tom was thinking of, all tried to speak at once.