At this Butsey White's lathery face suddenly appeared at the second-story window.
"He doesn't want to buy--he wants to sell us something," he said. "Patent underwear and all that sort of thing."
Stover, red to the ears, advanced to the steps and stopped.
"Well?" said the Coffee-colored Angel as the guardian of the steps.
"I'm the new boy," said Stover in a gentle voice.
"New boys always say 'sir,' and take off their hats politely."
The White Mountain Canary looked at Tough McCarty, who solemnly interrogated the Coffee-colored Angel, who shook his head in utter disbelief and said:
"I don't believe it. It's a blind. I wouldn't let him in the house."
"Please, sir," said Stover hastily, doffing his derby, "I am."
Stover smiled a sickly smile, shifted from foot to foot and glanced hopefully at his fellow-imps to surprise a look of amusement. But as every face remained blank, serious and extremely critical, the smile disappeared in a twinkling and his glance went abruptly to his toes.
"He certainly should prove it," said the Coffee-colored Angel anxiously. "Can you prove it?"
Stover gingerly placed the gaping valise on the top step and fumbled in his pockets.
"Please, sir, I have a letter from--from the Doctor," he blurted out, finally extracting a crumpled envelope and tendering it to the Coffee-colored Angel, who looked it over with well-simulated surprise and solemnly announced:
"My goodness gracious! Why, it is the new boy!"
"Freshman, what's your name?" said little Susie Satterly in his deepest tones.
"Say it for me," said the Coffee-colored Angel, with his hand to his ear.
"Are you trying to bluff us, Freshman?" said Cheyenne Baxter severely.
"Well, Rinky Dink, you've got a rotten name."
"Yes, sir," said Stover, who never before had felt such a longing to agree.
The group slowly circulated about the embarrassed Stover, scanning the amazing costume. Cheyenne Baxter took up the inquisition.
"Say, Dink, honest, are these your _own_ clothes?" he said with a knowing look.
"Now, honest," continued Cheyenne in a whisper, bending forward and putting his hand to his ear as though inviting a confidence.
Stover felt suddenly as though his own ears were swelling to alarming proportions--swelling and perceptibly reddening.