“Yes, near Roanoke. It isn’t exactly country, though. I mean there’s a good many houses out our way. We’re only two miles from town.” Towne laughed. “Two miles! That sounds like country to me, all right. What do you call country, Burtis? I suppose Roanoke is just a village, isn’t it?” “N-no, not exactly. It’s got twenty-seven hundred inhabitants.” “Think of that! A regular metropolis, isn’t it? Ever been to Bangor?” “Yes, once; just for a day. It’s a nice city, I think.” “You bet it is. That’s where I live. Know where the high school is?” “N-no, I don’t think so. I wasn’t there long, you see. Why?” “I was going to tell you where I live. Our house is pretty nearly as big as this whole building.” “Gosh, it must take a lot to heat it!” exclaimed Kendall. “It’s heated with hot water,” said Towne. “Like this is?” “No, this is steam here. Hot water’s better. I guess you haven’t been around much, have you?” “Around the country you mean? No, I haven’t. Have you?” “Er――some. I’m going to California and down through Old Mexico some day soon. That’s a trip for you!” “Quite, some ways,” agreed Kendall. “This is as far as I’ve been yet. It doesn’t seem much different from Maine, either. You’d think, being as it’s so much farther south, that it would be sort of――of different.” “You talk as though Connecticut was down south,” laughed Towne. “It gets just as cold here in winter as it does up home. I suppose they put you in here with me because we’re both from Maine.” “I guess so. And we’re in the same class, too. Maybe that had something to do with it. Those books all yours?” “Yes. I’ve got twenty times that many at home.” “Honest?” exclaimed Kendall. “Gosh, you must have a regular library. I’m awfully fond of books, but I haven’t got many.” “What kind of books do you like?” asked Towne. “Any kind; just books,” replied Kendall simply. “Well, there’s one kind I haven’t any love for, and that’s text-books,” said Towne, frowning at the array before him. “You could have a mighty good time here at Yardley if you didn’t have to study so blamed hard.” “Y-yes, but of course a fellow expects to have to study,” answered Kendall. “I don’t mind that. I guess I sort of like it. Still, I want to have time enough to play football.” “Say, are you one of those athletic cranks?” demanded Towne distastefully. “I don’t believe so. I don’t know anything about athletics. I’d like to play football, though. Do you play?” “Me? Well, I guess not! You don’t catch me wearing my young life away doing those stunts. A good game of tennis now and then is all right, but this thing of working like a slave for a couple of hours every afternoon and getting your bones cracked isn’t my way, let me tell you! I don’t mind seeing a good game sometimes, but I’m no martyr. Besides, if you make the team you have to go to training table and be just about half starved. Not for mine, thank you!”