“Well, you might let that information leak out in Hop’s direction; perhaps he will give you a fair show. Only thing is, I’m afraid he’s taken a――a sort of prejudice against you.” “I guess he has,” laughed Evan. “And, for that matter, I’m not crazy about him. Still, if he will let me on the team, I’ll forgive him for mashing my nose flat.” “It doesn’t look flat,” said Rob, viewing it attentively. “It’s a trifle red, but otherwise normal. By ginger! I wonder what time it is. I’m getting hungry. Oh, there’s no use looking at that clock on the mantel there. It hasn’t gone right for months. I borrowed one of the cog-wheels last spring, and now it has the blind staggers.” “It’s twelve minutes to six,” said Evan, looking at his watch. “When do we have supper?” “In twelve minutes if we get there. I’ll wash while you get your things out. Yes, that’s your closet. There’s some truck in there that belongs to Sandy. Pitch it out on the floor, and I’ll ask Mrs. Crow to store it away for him. Hold on! That vest isn’t his; it’s mine. Confound that fellow! I looked for that thing all summer. Thought I’d lost it. You see, Sandy Whipple and I are just the same size, and so we wear each other’s clothes most of the time. I guess you and I can’t exchange that way, Kingsford. Your trousers would be several inches too short for little me. How about collars?” “Thirteen and a half,” said Evan. “My size exactly! Thirteen and a half, fourteen, or fourteen and a half; I’m not fussy about collars. All through here.” Rob tossed the towel in the general direction of the wash-stand and looked around for his cap. “Where do we eat?” asked Evan, filling the bowl. “Dining-hall’s in Second House. If we hurry, maybe we can get at a side table. I’m as hungry as a bear. I forgot all about dinner this noon. I got so interested in that silly piece of brass that they’d stolen the dining-car before I knew it. Ready? Sometime I’m going to fix it so we can go down by the window. It would be lots nearer than going by the stairs, and I’ve got a dandy idea for a rope ladder!” CHAPTER III EVAN MAKES ACQUAINTANCES