“I object!” cried Bert, leaping to his feet and viewing Phin threateningly.
“I don’t think the question need be answered,” said Field. “It is somewhat--er--irregular.”
“We want to know!” cried a voice from the back of the hall.
“If Mr. Dorr has finished I think it would be well to----”
“Mr. Chairman,” interrupted the troublesome Spring, the editor in chief of _The Record_, the school monthly, “Mr. Chairman, I move you that the assistant manager explain what is meant in this case by ‘team expenses.’”
“It is moved and seconded,” said Field wearily, “that Mr. Dorr explain the meaning. Those in favor of the motion will say ‘Aye.’”
Followed a deafening shout of dissent from the front rows.
“The No’s appear to have it,” said Field. “The motion is----”
“Seconded!” “Stand up!” “That’s the stuff!” These cries from the seat of opposition at the back of the hall.
Field hesitated. Bert was scowling blackly. Cameron, to whom the proceedings might naturally have been of interest, was apparently unconcerned. Hansel wondered whether he understood what was coming. Then a standing vote was taken and almost every fellow voted in the affirmative. Field was forced to give in.
“It is moved and carried,” he announced shortly, “that the assistant manager explain more fully.”
Phin, who during the proceedings had kept his place at the front of the stage and awaited calmly the outcome, bowed.
“The words ‘team expenses’ are used in this particular case,” he explained dryly, “to mean the fall term tuition of one of the members of the team.”
The announcement caused a sudden commotion of audible remarks, whisperings and whistling. Those, and they were greatly in the minority, who knew who the member of the team was craned their heads for a sight of the untroubled countenance of the star half back. Bert’s face looked like a thunder cloud as he scowled alternately at Hansel and Phin. Mr. Ames was studying his hands.
“Mr. Chairman!” It was Spring again. “Mr. Chairman, I’d like to ask whether it was understood that the money collected for the team was to be used to pay the tuition expenses of one of the students.”
This demand was loudly applauded. Field looked toward Phin.
“I believe,” answered the latter, “that there was a tacit understanding to that effect. Of course, it would not do for the school to have it publicly known that we pay a player’s expenses in order to strengthen our team. But we did it last year, and if the collection is sufficiently generous to-night we shall do it again. I may add that unless we do it we shall possibly lose one of our best players.”