Dick listened with a sheepish smile on his face.
“Go ahead,” he said, “and have a good time. I don’t mind. Children must be amused.”
“Ah, don’t let it harden you,” pleaded Chub. “Face it like a man and live it down. After all, there are worse things in life—”
But Dick’s patience was at an end and Chub’s philosophizing was cut short by the sudden necessity of defending himself against Dick’s onslaught. A minute later Mr. Cobb, passing through the corridor, put his head in at the door long enough to remark:
“Boys! No fooling in the study room, remember!”
The three disentangled themselves, panting and puffing, and proceeded to repair their attire. Chub, with one end of his collar pointing toward his ear, observed the torn button-hole out of the corner of his eye and turned severely to Dick.
“I just hope he does fire you, you big Western brute! Look what you’ve done to my collar.”
“Go and borrow one of Sid’s,” suggested Roy with a laugh.
“Well, we’re even,” Dick answered unruffledly. “My suspenders are busted.”
After the final morning recitation Dick turned his steps toward the office. Of course there was no question of being expelled, but nevertheless he was anxious to know what awaited him. There were two boys ahead of him and he had to wait in the library for almost half an hour, and, naturally enough, that wasn’t pleasant. But finally the suspense ended and he found himself facing the Doctor.