Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/208

180 semble a crowd of indolent companions in his room, brew chocolate for them, and devise with them disorderly plots and practical jokes, for which he had a conspicuous fertility of mind. But now he resorted to the gymnasium, and trained with the first squad of candidates for the crews; and he abandoned his mischievously disposed friends to visit or walk with Rupert.

He found Francis Stoddard nearly always with Rupert, and that irritated him at first; but after a while he did not mind. As he phrased it to himself, Rupert's friendship was "good for two."

Stoddard played on the banjo, and taught Harry and Rupert to pick out several tunes. Both boys took a great delight in mastering this elementary accomplishment. Rupert's leg was getting stronger, too, and although he was not able to discard his crutches, he could swing along on them as rapidly now as any one would want to walk.

When there was no hockey, Joe Herrick sometimes dropped into Rupert's room, or