well and that I would be satisfied to keep you as long as he wished you to remain."
"Oh!"
"I imagined that some boys might be mean enough to—er—to throw this up to you, and I am sorry that it has occurred. If you will give me their names, I will see that they are properly punished."
"Oh, sir, I don't want to do that. But I—I was afraid they might leave the school on my account."
Dr. Clay stiffened up. "If anybody wishes to leave he can go," he said. "I am not going to put you out. I want you to stay, both on your own account and for the sake of Oliver Wadsworth, who is an old and dear friend, and on account of old Professor Potts, of whom I have heard. All I ask of you is, that you behave as well as the average pupil here, and attend to your studies."
Before the master of the Hall ceased speaking Dave's face was beaming, and at the conclusion he caught the doctor's hand in a tight squeeze.
"You are very kind, Dr. Clay."
"It is no kindness, Porter, only justice. I do not imagine that the majority of your fellow students will think any the less of you because of your past. I should be sorry to find them so narrow-minded. And as for the others, take my advice, and pay no attention to them—unless, of course, they
