Amy threw up his hands in despair. “You fellows are so stuck on
yourselves,” he said finally, “that I suppose you’ll be expecting Robey
to discharge the ‘varsity and let you play against Claflin!”

“I’m not through,” he muttered thickly. “Wait–a minute!”

“He lives the other side of the village. His father owned a lot of land
around here and made heaps of money selling it off. They call him ‘Babe’
Beaufort; this fellow, I mean, not his father; probably because he’s
so big.”

The three boys started. A few yards away, leaning on his cane, stood a
tall man of twenty-three or four years, a mildly surprised expression on
his good-looking face.

he soon had them as eager as he was, and the afternoon when they kept
the ‘varsity from scoring during two twelve-minute periods was a
red-letter day, and supper that evening was almost like a banquet
“Boots” worked them hard, but his own enthusiasm was so contagious that
he soon had them as eager as he was, and the afternoon when they kept
the ‘varsity from scoring during two twelve-minute periods was a
red-letter day, and supper that evening was almost like a banquet.
Fortunately the ‘varsity table and the second team table were separated
by the width of the hall. Otherwise the ‘varsity fellows might have
taken exception to some of the remarks that passed between the elated
second team members.

_foot_-note
“Thank you! I was afraid I’d have to explain it for you in a
_foot_-note.”

according to Amy, when Harris of the ‘varsity skirted its left end and
romped across the goal line for a third touchdown
A few minutes later the second again covered itself with glory,
according to Amy, when Harris of the ‘varsity skirted its left end and
romped across the goal line for a third touchdown. Amy applauded with
glee and thumped Clint on the shoulder. “Bully for our side, Clint!” he
gloated. “We’ve gone and made the ‘varsity score another touchdown for
us! Oh, but we’re the snappy little heroes, what? Let’s see if Jack can
kick a goal and give us another point. Now then! There we go! Did he or
didn’t he?”

diversion by proceeding, from force of habit, to the second team table
That evening when he went in to supper he created an unintentional
diversion by proceeding, from force of habit, to the second team table.
It was only when he got there and found no seat awaiting him that it
dawned on him that he had made a mistake. The second team fellows broke
into a roar of laughter as Clint blankly surveyed them and, turning
hurriedly, made his way to the other end of the room. The rest of the
fellows sensed the situation after a moment and Clint passed table
after table of amused faces. Amy, grinning delightedly, reached far
across the board where he sat and, pointing at Clint with a baked potato
impaled on a fork, announced loudly: “A _contretemps_, Mr. Thayer, a
veritable _contretemps_!” Clint was blushing when he finally reached the
first of the tables occupied by the ‘varsity players and found a vacant
chair. There, too, amused glances awaited him, and he was heartily glad
when Freer laughingly pulled him into the seat beside him.

so much of his time in such manner? Raise your hands, please
“Marvellous! Is there any other member of the class who wasted
so much of his time in such manner? Raise your hands, please.
One–two–three–Burgess, you hesitate, do you not? Ah, I thought so!
You were merely going to scratch your head. Wise youth, Burgess. Scratch
hard. Set up a circulation if possible. Hm. That will do, Thayer.
Burgess, if it is not asking too much–”

The driver turned and grinned. He was a not-over-clean youth, and his
hair was badly in need of a barber’s attentions, but he was evidently
good-natured. The car, which was an old one and had undoubtedly seen
much better days, swung around and headed back toward Thacher School and
the football field. The youth talked to them over his shoulder.