Fred's suspicions, however, did his schoolmates injustice. In line with their plan of the previous night, Buttons and Sandow had sought Grace, Sallie and Dorothy, early in the morning, and, after explaining matters to them, had received their assurance of hearty coöperation in the endeavor to shield Fred from taunts about his father, and the various groups the sensitive boy had noticed were caused by the girls putting into immediate effect their promise. The sight of Margie standing alone on the porch, however, made Fred forgetful of the others. "Why are you here, and not with Grace?" he asked. "They didn't seem to want me," replied the girl. Only one reason for such apparent ostracism could Fred imagine, and at the thought his face grew very serious. "If they are going to leave you out because of me, I'll quit the school," he declared vehemently. "Don't be a goose, Fred," returned Margie, though there was a light in her eyes that made Fred's heart beat faster. "Nobody's going to leave either of us out of anything." "Then why do they all stop talking when I come near, and stare at me?" demanded the boy. "Nonsense. It's just your imagination," temporized the girl, for, having been apprised of Buttons' plan by Grace, and told why it would not be politic for her to assist in promoting it, she feared the evident suffering of the boy might force her into an explanation. "Imagination, nothing. I guess I can see," retorted Fred. "Besides, Bronson noticed it, too." "Oh, well, have it your own way, if you like," pouted Margie. "I don't think, though, it is very nice to contradict me so emphatically." This rebuke sent a flush of contrition to Fred's cheeks, and while he was stammering an apology the bell rang, and the students, whose actions had caused all the boy's misgivings, hurried into school, those who were near Fred hailing him cordially. "There! Didn't I tell you you were mistaken?" breathed Margie, as she walked to the general assembly room, by Fred's side. The sudden change in the attitude of his schoolmates was more than Fred could fathom, and so absorbed was he in trying to solve the mystery, that the girl had left him to go to her side of the hall before he thought of a reply. The students were allowed to choose their own seats in chapel, the only restriction being that each Form must sit by itself. According, Fred, Buttons, Soda, Shorty and Bronson appropriated one bench, marking the respective numbers of their seats in the class room on the back, in pencil. So engrossed was the fair-haired boy in this task, that he did not notice his rival when he entered. But his attention was quickly called to him by Buttons. "We sure got Bart. Look at the court plaster on his face," chuckled the boy, nudging his chum. "He's had to use three pieces."