Hop shot a quick glance at the speaker, and Ned declared afterward that there was a smile behind it. But all he said was: “Oh, well, pointing isn’t everything, Nod. Some one’s got to kick it!”
When he had gone on, Ned and Laurie viewed each other questioningly. “Think he knows?” asked Ned. Laurie shook his head frowningly. “You’ve got me, partner!” he answered.
And, because neither asked Hop Kendrick outright, neither ever did know!
There were songs and speeches and a general jollification after supper, ending in a parade of cheering, singing youths who marched through the town from end to end, and at last drew up outside Doctor Hillman’s porch and shouted until that gentleman appeared and responded. The Doctor’s words were few, but they hit the spot, and when there had been another long cheer for him, and another long cheer for the team, and a final mighty cheer for the school, the happy boys called it a day and sought the dormitories.
Ned was just dropping off to sleep that night when Laurie’s voice reached him through the darkness.
“Ned!” called Laurie.
“Huh?”
“Are you awake?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Listen. It’s a fortunate thing to be a twin.”