"Why, I thought that Merriwell ranked high, professor?" said Frost. "He's no fool," growled Babbitt, "and if he would study hard I presume he might lead the class in scholarship, but as it is, he spends most of his time in athletics and skylarking." "Oh, not quite so bad as that!" "Yes, it is. He's naturally bright, and by a very little attention to his lessons he's able to get marks that enable him to pass along with fair standing, while most of his time is given to anything but work. It isn't right that anybody should get through Yale so easily; it's bad for the rest of the students." "I have an idea," said Frost, quietly, "that Merriwell's example isn't regarded as a bad one by other members of the faculty." "Ah, you're just as bad as the students themselves in your fondness for that scamp!" exclaimed Babbitt. "He seems to fascinate everybody he meets except me." "Yes, I think you're an exception." "I believe you are trying to be sarcastic, Frost, but it doesn't make any difference; my mind is set on making an example of Merriwell so that the other fellows in his class who follow his lead will be frightened into studying harder." "Do you then mean that this examination is aimed directly at Merriwell?" "Not quite so strong as that. There are others, of course, but he's a natural leader, and I don't at all fancy the easy way he takes things, and then bobs up at examinations with enough knowledge to work out his papers." "I should think," suggested Frost, "that that was all the professors could require of a student." "That's because you're young!" snapped Babbitt. "You ought to forget that you've been a student----" "Excuse me, professor, but I think just the contrary. It seems to me that the more an instructor remembers of his student days the better he will be able to get along with his classes." "All right, then, you stick to your theory, and I'll stick to mine. Meantime, look at this paper; that's what I asked you to call for." "Is this the examination paper that you're going to set before Merriwell's class?" "Yes." There was then a silence of some minutes during which probably Mr. Frost was studying the examination paper. At last he remarked: "Well, I've looked it through." "What do you think of it?" asked Babbitt. "Do you want my honest opinion?" "Of course I do! Why else should I get you up here?" After a slight pause Mr. Frost said: "It seems to me that the examination is very one-sided." "Eh?" "Why, it is all aimed at a certain line of work, and doesn't cover anything like all the work done in the course of the year." "Well, I have my reason for that!" "I supposed so." "I know that fellow Merriwell's weakness; I know just where he's likely to be faulty, and if he can pass that paper he'll do better than I think he can." "Why, Prof. Babbitt," exclaimed Frost in an indignant tone, "it looks as if you were purposely trying to trip Merriwell so as to get him disciplined, or dropped!"