Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/31

Rh frowning and shaking his head. "Must n't do that there."

"May we do it on the ice, sir?" Harry asked earnestly, and the boys laughed.

"You have a foolish wit, Harding," the master said, with an indulgent smile; and because he was indulgent he had to reprove Harry and Herrick a moment later for again throwing the ball.

Gradually the boys scattered, some of them going up over the hill, on which stood the red brick house of one of the masters, the others walking down the slope toward the mill-pond.

Francis Stoddard and Bruce Watson had been sitting together on the fence, and Rupert Ormsby had been sitting near them with two fifth formers. Suddenly Bruce slipped down to the ground, and said:— "Well, so long, Frank! Harry Harding and Joe Herrick and I are going for a walk," and he turned and called, "Coming, Harry?"

The three went off together up the road.

Rupert after a moment called out, "Don't be so exclusive, Stoddard! Come over here!"