m
mighty sorry for my part in it."

And so it went on. It stood out clearly now, that they had little or no
ground for their action against Mulvy. But all felt that there was no
question of his coming back.

Out on the field, the Stanley contingent was jubilant. Songs and cheers
rocked the stands. The Regal supporters tried to look hopeful, but not
with any great success. There were many inquiries about Mulvy. Some gave
one reason, some another, for his absence. Those in the parish gave the
Club story. But the High School drew students from all over town, and
the parish affairs were not known outside. The Stanley players were
asking where Mulvy was, for they knew him and his record. They thought
he was on the crippled list. Their chief concern was joy over the score,
and the prospect of final victory, and the Interscholastic Championship.

Gaffney, meanwhile, had got a closed auto and had put into it a reserve
uniform. It seemed the traffic cops took him for an ambulance--for he
reached Frank's in five minutes. He rushed upstairs, rang the bell,
breathing hard as he waited for the door to open.

Frank was with his mother and Father Boone within. The priest knew that
Frank would feel it keenly that he was ostracized from the team, and
being sure also that he would not go to the game, he had dropped in,
casually, as it were, to see Mrs. Mulvy. Frank was really glad to see
him.

"Do you know, Father," he said, after the casual remarks had all been
made, "I've been building castles in the air. I was imagining that the
game was hard fought, and that our fellows were getting the worst of it.
Then I fancied they wished they had me with them, and that they sent for
me. I scorned them and had my revenge!"

"That's quite a romance, Frank," said the priest. "But I guess the boys
are winning. You know they said that that sub played splendidly
yesterday."

"I hope they are winning, Father. I was just day-dreaming."

"But, Frank, suppose now that they did actually send for you, would you
scorn them; would you refuse to go?"

"Well, Father, except for one thing. In church this morning, I offered
this injustice to God as a sacrifice. If I should act resentfully, it
would spoil the sacrifice."

"Now, you are talking as a Christian, as a Christian Knight. I'm proud
of you. You see, in a case like this, you would not be obliged to go
back to them. They ejected you. You are free to go back or not. But to
go back, not being obl