Toby nodded, hugging his knees up to his chin. “It was Arnold who got me to come here to school. His folks have a summer place over on Long Island where I live. Greenhaven. Ever been there?”
Crowell shook his head.
“Nice place,” continued Toby thoughtfully. “Arnold and I got acquainted and he talked so much about this school that I just made up my mind I’d come here. So I did.”
“Like it now you’re here?” asked the other boy, smiling.
“Oh, yes! Yes, I’m glad I came, all right. Of course—” Toby glanced about the room—“I’m not what you’d call luxuriously fixed up here, but I’ve got the room to myself, and that’s good, because if I had a room-mate he might object to my staying up all hours pressing clothes. Besides, it was just about the only room I could afford.”
“Yes, I suppose it’s just about all right for you,” agreed the other dubiously. “Do you—do you do pretty well?”
“Fair. It gets me enough to keep going on. I don’t charge much, you see, and it’s easier for fellows to bring their things to me than to take them to the village or over to Greenburg. It was sort of hard getting started. Fellows thought at first I couldn’t do it, I guess. But now they keep me pretty busy. To-day’s been a whopper. Every one wants his things pressed to go home in. I’m almost done, though. Only got three more suits—and these trousers of yours. Those won’t take me long. I’ll be through in a couple of hours.”
“I shouldn’t think you’d have time to do anything else,” commented Crowell. “When do you get outdoors? And how about studying?”
“Oh, I have plenty of time. I get up at six, and that gives me a good hour before chapel. And then I have another hour at eleven, and, since football’s been over, an hour or so in the afternoon.”
“Did you go out for football?”