“I wouldn’t think of it,” said Stiles earnestly. “I didn’t really think he was scared, you know; only some of the other fellows who saw it said it looked that way. Don’t tell Dud Baker I said that, will you?”
“Me? No indeed. In fact, I wouldn’t mention the thing to him at any price. He’s awfully touchy, you see, and ever since this morning he’s been sort of like a bear with a sore head. I guess there’s times when he wishes he’d forgotten himself and let fly! Well, so long!”
Jimmy walked on toward Lothrop and Ned Stiles plunged through the door and hurried down the corridor to leave his books and then spread his news to all who would hearken to it. And Jimmy, approaching the first entrance to Lothrop Hall, winked gravely at the ornamental brass knocker.
CHAPTER V
DUD LOSES HIS TEMPER
“Winter,” observed Jimmy very disgustedly one morning toward the last of February, “is sure ‘lingering in the lap of spring,’ as the poet hath it. Between you and me, Dud, I guess winter’s fallen asleep there! Here it is almost March and everything’s still covered up with snow or ice. Or water,” he added a second later, his gaze falling to the pools of melting snow that lay in the hollows of the campus.
The windows were wide open and the air that came in, while chill and damp, still, somehow, held a suggestion—or perhaps a faint promise—of spring. But the sky was leaden, between the walks the sod was hidden under patches of dirty snow or ice that had begun to melt a little and the whole morning world had a tired and bedraggled look. Jimmy, still attired in pajamas, shivered and turned disapprovingly away. Then his gaze fell on Dud and the disapproval increased, for Dud, half awake a moment before, had nestled down on the rumpled pillow again and was sleeping peacefully. Jimmy was righteously indignant.
“Wake up, you sluggard!” he bawled, pulling the clothes from the other. “Here I’ve been talking to you for five minutes, saying perfectly gorgeous things, and you haven’t heard a word! Get up, you lazy loafer, and hear the birdies sing—or sneeze! Come out of there!”
Dud came out, rather in a heap, blinking confusedly, and strove to pull the clothes from the bed to his shrinking form on the floor. But Jimmy was merciless, and Dud was forced to arise grumblingly and rub his sleepy eyes.
“Wh—what time is it?” he yawned.