Frank did not say much on the way home, and neither did Andy. But they were doing a lot of thinking and their thoughts were not pleasant. The rebuff just administered had been more humiliating than the letter in regard to the rowing.
"He needn't have laughed," said Frank in a low voice, as they neared the school.
"No, that was adding insult to injury," agreed Andy. "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know, exactly. Let's wait and see what the word is from Milton. They may be more decent."
They did not have long to wait for an answer from the other boarding school farther up the river. There were two letters in Frank's room when he and Andy successfully eluded the monitor and reached their apartment.
"Here's the answer from Waterside," announced Frank, holding up an envelope bearing the imprint of that school. "And this is from Milton Academy," he added, as he looked at the other. His hand shook a little as he opened it, and his face, that had been gloomy when he began to read, was more so as he finished.
"Well?" asked Andy.
"Nothing doing," answered Frank briefly. "They say we are not in their class. I'm going to bed."
The news was all over the school the next morning, and it created more of a stir than had the first refusal of Waterside to row, for there were more boys interested in football than in the race on the river.
"It's a shame!" exclaimed Captain Jack vindictively. "I'd like a chance to tell 'em so, too."