Page:Stanwood Pier--Crashaw brothers.djvu/47

Rh “Oh, nothing. I was only thinking, if you did that to Tom Sheldon—”

“Was that Sheldon, the crew captain?”

“The same. Can you blame fellows for saying you’re fresh?”

Edward looked confused; then he said, “Well, I don’t care. It was the only thing to do.”

Blanchard laughed again and patting him on the back, said, “You’re a great kid, Ned.”

Anyway that little talk put Edward into good spirits; and the next day he was writing  to his brother at St. John’s as follows:—

,—I ought to have written to you before this, but I have been so busy; there has been so much going on. I asked Mother to send you my letters. I guess the joke is on me all right. I thought that by coming here I should be getting away from  your influence, but it does n’t seem to be the  least use. They all think that because I’m your brother I must be some good, and they  don’t treat me like a new kid at all. Blanch-