“Shut up, Jimmy!” implored Dud.
“Why? There’s no harm in it, you chump. I asked Dud who he’d like to know most and he said——”
“Please dry up, Jimmy!”
“He said Hugh Ordway. That’s why we butted in on you one night a long while ago.”
“Really? Well, you know, that’s quite a compliment, Baker. I’m afraid, though, you didn’t find me—what’s the word, Nick?”
“Responsive?”
“Well, yes. Or appreciative, I guess; that’s better. If I’d known——”
“You didn’t expect Baker to tell you, did you?” asked Nick. “If you really wanted to know a fine, respectable member of the community, though, Baker, why didn’t you select me? I can’t understand you wanting to know this cold-blooded Britisher.”
“I think we called on you next,” answered Dud, laughing.
“Did you? Well, thanks for small favors! But look here, Jimmy, it’s been fun for you, I guess, but you haven’t done Baker much good, you idiot! A fellow’s got to work out his own—his own salvation at school. No one else can do it for him. Now you let Baker hoe his own row, and——”