Page:Dave Porter at Oak Hall.djvu/221

Rh manly, and he had taken an interest in you on that account as well as because you had saved his daughter from being burned."

"And you didn't mind my coming here because—because I wasn't from a—some well-known family?"

"No, I had no objection to that, so long as you behaved as well as the rest of my pupils."

"It was kind of you, Dr. Clay!" And Dave began to warm up. "Very kind indeed!"

"Not at all, Porter. You have as much right to an education as anybody. You—but what brought you here? Has anybody said anything of this to you?" And now the master of Oak Hall bent a pair of shrewd, penetrating eyes upon the youth.

"Yes, sir, and I was afraid——"

"Who was it?"

"I don't care to mention any names, sir. But I thought that perhaps you didn't know—and that if it became known, and you didn't want me—that it was going to hurt the school——"

"You need not proceed, Porter. I think I understand you. I thought this matter over before I sent word to Mr. Wadsworth that you might come. I don't mind telling you now that I told him in my first letter that I would try you for a few weeks or a month. Yesterday I sent him another letter, in which I told him that you were doing