Then the coach stopped talking, the blackboard was moved back to the wall and there was a great scraping of chairs. And almost at the same moment the waiters came in with loaded trays and a cold lunch was set on the table, big platters of sandwiches and dishes of plain cake and pitchers of steaming hot cocoa and of milk and bowls of oranges, and every one began helping himself and eating where he sat or stood. Every one, that is, but Toby. Toby sat where he had been put and looked on in puzzlement. Or he did until the coach remembered him and, a sandwich in one hand and a cup of cocoa in the other, came to him.
“No appetite, Tucker?” he asked cheerfully. “That won’t do. Better try some of this hot cocoa and worry a couple of sandwiches down. I guess I know how you feel, my boy, but there’s no call to be nervous.”
“No, sir,” gulped Toby. “I—I’m not nervous, Mr. Lyle. I——”
“That’s right! Wade in and get some food then. Glad you got back to us, Tucker.” The coach turned away again, his eye on the sandwich platter, and Toby followed him.
“Mr. Lyle!” The coach stopped. “Mr. Lyle, will you please tell me what you—what the—what I’m doing here?”
“Eh? What you’re doing here? Why, you’re supposed to get your luncheon, Tucker. What do you mean?”
“But—but I’m not on the team, sir, and I don’t understand. Tarrant said you wanted me over here and——”
“Didn’t he tell you why? Didn’t Tubb tell you? Hasn’t any one told you?”
Toby shook his head mutely, almost apologetically.
“Well!” The coach took Toby’s arm and walked him over toward a window. “I’m sorry. Tucker,” he said, “I thought of course you knew. Not that I know much myself, though. All I do know is that Tubb came bounding to me an hour or more ago and told me you were square at the Office and wanted me to put you back. He said there had been a mistake and that you hadn’t done what you were supposed to have done. I told him I didn’t think you’d be an awful lot of use, after being out for more than a week, but that I was quite willing to have you back on the squad anyway. So I called up the Office and found it was all right and sent Tarrant to look for you. That’s all I know, Tucker. If I can work you in for a minute I’ll do it, but I make no promises. It’s sort of hard lines on you, though, and I’ll do my best. Have you forgotten everything you knew?”