“Y-yes, I cal’late it is,” replied Cal doubtfully. “That’s about what I paid for these.” He looked thoughtfully at his gray flannels. “And I’ve worn ’em two summers.”
“They’re very nice,” said Ned with an effort. “But I wouldn’t get light gray if I were you, Cal. You see, you’re sort of light yourself and darkish things would look better on you.”
“They show the dirt, though.”
“Not if they’re kind of rough and mixy,” said Ned. “If you could get a suit for twelve you could easily afford to buy the football togs, couldn’t you?” But Cal looked doubtful.
“I was cal’lating to spend about twelve altogether,” he replied. “Then you said I ought to have a cap and a belt and some neckties; though seems to me I’d better wear what neckties I’ve got; I’ve got a whole lot of ’em; about six or seven, I guess.”
“Never mind those things now,” said Ned. “As for the cap, why, you might just as well wear that one you’ve got on as buy a new one. It fits all right, and I don’t need it. And the belt the same way. It isn’t a very good one, but it will do well enough. And you can buy a couple of ties any old time. Look here, Cal, if you’re hard-up just now, there’s a fellow in town who will trust you if you want him to. Of course he will charge you a little bit more for what you get, and you mustn’t say anything about it to anyone, because it’s against the rules to get things on credit.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” said Cal. “Besides, I’ve got as much now as I will have all winter. More, I guess,” he added ruefully. “I suppose I couldn’t play football in what I’ve got? There’s an old pair of trousers upstairs—”
But Ned shook his head firmly.
“Couldn’t be done. You can’t work in tight things, and they won’t stand the strain. No, you’ve got to have togs, Cal.”
“Have, eh?” Cal looked disappointed. “Well, all right. I wish I didn’t, though. You see, I thought I’d get mother to send me ten dollars. Then I’ve got pretty near three dollars left from my trip. And that ought to be enough. If I just got the suit, you know. But if I’ve got to have football things—” He stopped and shook his head puzzledly.