“I don’t like it,” said Hansel decisively.
“Don’t like it? Well—well, what can you do? Why don’t you like it?” Bert was genuinely astonished.
“I don’t like to think that that sort of thing is done at the school I go to,” answered the other firmly. “When I found I was coming here to Beechcroft I was proud of it. I had heard of the school all my life and had always wanted to come here, but never expected to be able to. Beechcroft has stood for me for everything that’s fine and high and—and noble in school life, and now you tell me that it’s no better than any of the little mean sneaky schools out West that give free tuition and board to any chap who can kick a football or run around the bases! That’s why I don’t like it, Bert.”
“Well, don’t you let the fellows hear you calling Beechcroft mean and sneaky,” said Bert indignantly. “If you do you’ll get laid out.”
“Isn’t it?” asked Hansel quietly.
“No, it isn’t!” exploded Bert. “You needn’t judge Beechcroft by your little two-by-twice schools out West. What if Cameron does get helped along by the fellows? If we’re willing to do it it’s our affair. He’s a bona fide student at the academy, and no one can say he isn’t.”
“But I say it,” Hansel replied calmly.
Bert glared at him across the table as though on the point of inflicting blows. But Hansel’s steady untroubled gaze deterred him, and he contented himself with flinging himself out of his chair and seeking the support of the mantel.
“Then you lie!” he retorted hotly.
“I don’t think I do,” was the answer. “You’re not looking at the thing fairly and squarely, Bert. Here’s a fellow who hasn’t come here to prepare himself for college, who isn’t paying his own tuition, and who wouldn’t be here a day if he wasn’t a swell football player. And you call him a ‘bona fide student’!”