“Oh! Will you?” asked Hansel eagerly.
“Yes, I will. Have you made any plans of—campaign?”
“No, I haven’t. I meant to speak to Mr. Ames first; I thought he might suggest something.” Phin shook his head.
“Let’s leave him out of it for the present. After we’ve made a start we’ll ask his assistance, and I think he’ll give it, but just now, what with being in a bit of a pickle over the team and not wanting to lose one of his best men, it’s a difficult proposition to put to him. See what I mean?”
“Yes, I see,” answered Hansel. “Then what do you think we’d better do?” It seemed comforting to be able to say “we.”
“I think we’d better keep next year in mind, and not count too much on this. If you and I were members of the committee, and could get Bobby to act with us on the questions that came up, we could do about as we pleased.”
“Yes, but——”
“The new committee will be elected in the spring. You and I will stand.”
“You might make it all right,” said Hansel, “but I don’t know a soul, scarcely.”
“But you’re going to; that’s part of the conspiracy,” answered Phin with a smile. “We’ll begin to-morrow. I’ll introduce you to the best fellows in our class, and you must set out to win them. You’re certain of your place on the team, and that fact alone will carry weight. What you’ve got to do is to become popular, Dana.”