Fanshawe's to-night?"
"Then who's going to be sentinel at evening study?" asked Raymond
Stewart.
"Mr. Merton," answered the other.
"Isn't he invited?" asked Raymond.
"Yes, but he wants Seabrooke to go because he says he has but little
pleasure; so he told him he would decline and take the evening study,
so that he might go to the dinner. Here he comes now. Hallo!
Seabrooke, what a big-bug you're getting to be! Going out to dine
with the dons and so forth."
Seabrooke passed on with a cold, indifferent smile just moving the
corners of his mouth. He had little of the spirit of good comradeship
and was not accustomed to meet any joke or nonsense from his
companions in a responsive manner; so it was little wonder that he
was not very popular with the other boys.
But as he passed Percy, who stood leaning with his back against a
tree, rather discontentedly kicking the toe of his shoe into the
ground, he saw that the boy was vexed about something, and paused to
speak to him.
"Hallo, Neville," he said; "what is the matter? You look as if the
world were not wagging your way just now."
"Nothing," answered Percy, half-sulkily, "only I wish I hadn't given
you that money. The fellows think I'm awfully mean."
"So soon!" said Seabrooke to himself; then replied aloud, "Why,
because you wish to pay a just debt?"
"No, they don't know about that," said Percy, "only they think I
ought to stand treat."
"I shall keep my word to you," said Seabrooke, significantly, and
walked on.
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