The first house to be studied with special care was the neat white residence of Dr. Brandegee, with its shady trees and its garden; for Joe said,—
"That's where you fellows'll have to come right after breakfast, to be examined. Oh, but won't Old By put you through!"
Dick Lee's mouth came open as he stared at the knob on the doctor's front door, and Dabney caught himself doubting if he knew the multiplication-table. Even Ford Foster wondered if there was really any thing he could teach Dr. Brandegee, and remarked to Frank Harley,—
"I s'pose you're about the only man among us that he can't corner."
"How's that?"
"Why, if he's too hard on you, you can answer him in Hindustanee. He's never been a heathen in all his life: you'd have him"—
"Shuah!" chuckled Dick.
The "green" was large and well-kept, and looked like the best kind of a ball-ground; but there was nothing wonderful about the academy building, except that it evidently had in it room enough for a great many boys.
"You'll see enough of it before you get through," said Fuz. "But there'll have to be lots of whittling done this fall."
"Whittling? what for?"