Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/102

78 tated him. Rupert seemed to have a faculty for being always right and for making a fellow who made a slip of any kind feel needlessly small. Harry sat through the rest of that recitation in a mournfully resentful mood.

After the class was dismissed he avoided Rupert; but later in the day, just before supper, he came upon him and Doctor Vincent talking together in the hall.

Harry tried to slip by unnoticed; but Rupert, who had been laughing over something that he had been telling the doctor, turned and nodded with a casual good-humor, and said, "Hello, Harry!"

That evening, after the prayers in the common room, when the boys were getting ready to go down to the study for the hour of reading and letter-writing, Rupert, standing by the door, grabbed Harry's arm.

"Look here," he said, "you first eleven men are all candidates for the school team. You want to make it if you can, Harry. I'm going to keep watch of your playing from now on."