“Neither do we,” said Phin quietly; “but we want it to win honestly.”
“You’re getting it, too,” said Harry sadly. “I shall have to stop associating with you chaps; first thing I know I’ll be as crazy as you are!”
“Wish you were,” answered Phin smilingly. “We need help. How are you coming on, by the way?”
“Physically I am doing very well, thank you; recovering strength, appetite, and the use of my limbs; Doc says I can go out to-morrow; but I am troubled in mind, Phin; it worries me to see you becoming a victim to Hanselitis.”
Hansel dropped in just before dinner time, after Phin was gone, and he, too, had to tell of last evening’s proceedings. And he had to listen to very much the same remarks that had been made for Phin’s benefit. But when Harry made the statement that nothing could prevent Cameron from playing football, Hansel took him up.
“Sure, I’ll wait and see,” answered Harry cheerfully. “Maybe you’d like to bet on it, Hansel.”
“All right, then I’ll do the betting. If Billy doesn’t play in the Fairview game I’ll give you--what do you want?”
“Well,” said Hansel, looking about the study, “I need a good sweater. I’ll take that white one over there on the couch.”
“Done! The old thing’s got me into trouble enough already, and you can have it _if_-- But I don’t believe you’ll own it.”
Hansel didn’t much think the white sweater would ever come into his possession, himself, but there’s nothing to be gained by acknowledging defeat beforehand, and, besides, he felt rather hopeful and pleased this evening. In the first place, if Phin and he had accomplished no more they had at least stirred things up, for all day long the chief subject of discussion among the students of Beechcroft Academy had been the mass meeting and the status of the star half back. And, in the second place, Hansel had suffered public martyrdom, and there’s nothing like martyrdom to bolster up one’s self-respect and increase one’s self-importance. When he had reached the green that afternoon he had quickly noticed a difference in the attitude of the other members of the football team. It was not that they showed animosity, but they apparently viewed him distrustfully and seemed to avoid him as though he had suddenly become an outsider.