We acquiesced silently.
“And you, I believe, Mr. Wendell, have accepted the position of captain of the nine for this year.”
“Yes, sir,” answered Ray.
“Do you remember our conversation last spring, Mr. Wendell? I warned you that baseball was taking too much of your time. I found that you were neglecting certain branches of study on account of the game, and that it was interfering with your progress. Did you forget that warning?”
“No, Dr. Drayton. I accepted your suggestions, and, at first determined to give up baseball this year; but my college mates begged me not to go back on them, and upon thinking it over I made up my mind that I could, by being careful, keep up baseball, and lose nothing by it in my studies.”
“It is a mistaken idea altogether, sir,” exclaimed Dr. Drayton with some show of impatience. “You made an experiment of it last year, and what was the result? You dropped five places in your class during the baseball season. You, Mr. Elder, dropped ten. I say it is useless to attempt it, and I am sorry to see so promising young men throwing away opportunities and wasting time on a mere game.”
“But, Dr. Drayton,” said Ray, “I can’t help thinking that baseball does us as much good in one way as our studies do in another.”
“All exercise is good—in moderation,” answered Dr. Drayton sharply, “but when a game interferes with your class work, then it is time to stop. The matter was well gone over in our interview last year, and I am sorry, Mr. Wendell, that my warning was so little heeded. It comes now, however, to a choice. The faculty is willing to make your penalty in this case merely a nominal suspension of two weeks, upon condition that you young men consent to give up baseball.”
There was a dead silence for several moments. At length Dr. Drayton said,