Mr. Cooper nodded. “Yes,” he said. Loring waited for more, but no more came; and something in the man’s expression told him that another subject would be preferred. A silence followed in which Mr. Cooper watched the players, and Loring, appearing to do the same, really saw very little of what was going on. He was thinking about the stranger, reviewing the conversation and wondering if it would be permissible to invite the other to his room. Although Loring had yielded thoroughly to Mr. Cooper’s attractions he was aware that one member of the trio had accepted that gentleman with reservations. Loring couldn’t see Wattles without turning his head, and he hadn’t turned his head once since Mr. Cooper had broken the ice, but he knew without seeing that Wattles was not wholly approving. Perhaps that knowledge would eventually have strengthened his determination to issue the invitation, but just at the moment it caused hesitation, and before the hesitation had ended the second team took its bats and traipsed away to the other diamond and Mr. Cooper arose, said: “Good afternoon,” smiled and went away, too. Loring rather unjustly blamed Wattles. “Look here,” he charged, “you were beastly uncivil, Wattles, and I don’t like it.” “But I never said a word, Mr. Loring,” Wattles protested. “And I never said you did. But I’ll bet you looked as sour as a lime. Don’t think I don’t know that――that frozen face of yours by this time! Look here, what have you got against Mr. Cooper, anyway? You know perfectly well that stuff about having seen him before is absolute piffle!” “No, sir,” replied Wattles firmly. “Asking your pardon, Mr. Loring, I am perfectly certain that I have encountered the gentleman previously.” “Where, then? And what of it? It wasn’t in prison, was it?” “I have never been in prison, Mr. Loring,” stated Wattles with hurt dignity. “Oh, well, hang it, I didn’t say you had. Don’t be an ass, Wattles. If you don’t remember where you met him, you can’t have anything against him. And I could tell that he had never seen you in his life; at least, doesn’t remember it if he has! I’m going to ask him to call the next time I meet him, and I won’t have you looking the way you looked to-day.” “Very good, sir.” Presently, trundling across the grass, Loring said: “Sorry I spoke crossly, Wattles.” “Thank you, sir,” replied Wattles. “I regret having given offense, Mr. Loring.” “You didn’t, really,” laughed the boy. “It was just my rotten temper.”