Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/144

118 time to think, he had no tendency to be unjust.

"Well," he said, "if you feel that way about it," he laughed as he rose to go, "I guess I'll have to tell Herrick I made a mistake."

He did so, with an added word of apology.

"Oh, it's all right," said Herrick. "I don't blame you." And both this speech and the embarrassed manner of it surprised and touched Belmont. He went round telling fellows about the change in Herrick, and by his enthusiasm trying to repair the injury that he had done.

Francis Stoddard, however, ordinarily the gentlest and mildest of boys, remained cynical.

"Oh, he knows he must show a decent side to make up for what he did," Stoddard declared. "It's just like Rupert to forgive him so easily; but I don't."

Belmont, however, held to his opinion of Herrick's sincerity, and a thing happened which made him think better of Frank Windsor, too. At a meeting of the candidates