Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/301

Rh lawn, it was a question where the lads had  collected their materials; but a careful gleaning  had gathered in a rich harvest of light rubbish  that would do a smoky honor to their victory  of the morning.

Rob and Fred were greeted with enthusiastic shouts as they appeared, for Fred was rapidly regaining his old place among his boy friends. Several grimy hands were extended to help him to a post of honor, where he could be in the very midst of the fun, and, with a boyish chivalry, the lads often paused from their work to talk a moment with him, that he might not feel left out of their frolic. But, even by this time, Fred had not quite returned to his usual good humor, and as he loitered about, listening to the gay shouts of his friends, he was inwardly chafing at the infirmity that kept him apart from them, and, filled with an impulse to  get away from them, he turned slowly, and  walked towards the house.

“Where going, Fred?” he heard Rob call after him.

“Only just to the hammock,” he answered, for he had become quite familiar with the