hat I've seen of them so far. I think we're going to be a regular happy
family, as soon as we get going, and I'm mighty glad you fellows are
going to be in the crowd."

Nobody was gladder than Fred and Teddy themselves. Although they had not
confessed it, even to each other, they had felt a sort of dread of the
first few days at school. They had not known but what it might take
weeks before they could establish their footing and begin to feel at
home. Yet here it was only a few hours, and this friendly, big-hearted
boy had taken them right in, as cordially as though he had known them
for years. If they were to suffer from loneliness or homesickness, it
would not be Melvin Granger's fault.

"Here come some of the fellows now," he said, as a noisy group burst
into the room and began to make use of wash basins and towels. "I won't
stop to introduce you now. The supper gong will ring in about five
minutes, and they'll be breaking their necks to get ready in time. When
we get up here again after supper and study hours, I'll trot them all
out, and they can tell you the sad stories of their lives."

As he had predicted, the splashing of water and brushing of hair were
interrupted a few moments later by the clanging of the gong that told a
hundred or more hungry boys that supper was ready. There was no need of
a second summons, and with a last hasty touch to their incomplete
toilets, they came trooping into the immense dining-room that covered an
entire floor in one of the wings.

There were eight long tables, at the head of each of which was one of
the teachers. Dr. Rally sat apart, in state, with his family, at a
private table in one corner of the room. For this, all the boys inwardly
thanked their stars. Not one of them would have cared to eat under the
direct glare of the head of the school.

Fred and Teddy were glad to find that they had been assigned to the
table over which Professor Raymond presided. Melvin, too, was at the
same table, a little higher up.

The food was plentiful and well cooked, and although Fred and Teddy
would not have minded having one or two of the dainties that old Martha
was so adept in preparing, it was plain that her prophecy of their early
death from starvation was not going to be fulfilled. They made a most
satisfactory meal, marred only by the fact that Teddy's piece of pie was
devoured by some unknown neighbor while he was talking to Fred.

He was game, however, and not being able to s