then the chapel bell called them to the duties of the hour.

Frank did not pass a very happy day. He mingled of necessity with the
Banbury groups during the studies, but only for an occasional glowering
look from Gill Mace's discolored eye and some suppressed sneers from
Banbury, Durkin and others of their crowd, there was no allusion made to
the cause of the fight.

However, there were mysterious whisperings going on at times. Some boys
with whom Frank was not well acquainted shied off from him at noon time,
and Frank knew that the poison of Mace's insinuations was working among the
general school group.

Frank was in his room at four o'clock, and promptly at the hour Ned Foreman
put in an appearance. Frank set aside his troubles and greeted him in a
friendly manner. He locked the door and gave his visitor a comfortable
chair.

"Tell me about yourself, Ned," he said. "How you got here from Tipton, and
about your plans, and all that."

It was not much of a story, but its details showed again the homeless lad
was set and sensible in his resolve to gain an education.

"I like you, Ned," said Frank, "and you know it, and I wouldn't be acting
as a true friend if I didn't say just what was in my mind, would I, now?"

"You'll never say a thing to hurt a fellow's feelings, I'll risk that,"
returned Ned with a smile of confidence.