That was not such a bad beginning; there was a general grin which
broadened into a laugh when the first boy blushingly owned to the name
of Walnut. Then came Lacy and Norris, and then Westby.

"Oh," said Irving. "I think you're to be in my dormitory, aren't you?"

"I believe so." Westby looked at him quizzically, as if expecting him to
make some reference to their encounter; but Irving passed on to his next
neighbor, Carroll, and then began with the other side of the table.

He liked the appearance of the boys; they were quiet-looking and
respectful, and they had been responsive enough to his suggestion about
announcing their names. A happy inspiration told him that so long as he
could keep on taking the initiative with boys, he would have no serious
trouble. But it was one thing to recognize an effective mode of conduct,
and another to have the resourcefulness for carrying it out. Irving was
just thinking what next he should say, when Westby fell upon him.

"Mr. Upton,"--Westby's voice was curiously distinct, in spite of its
quietness,--"wasn't it funny, our taking you for a new kid this
afternoon?"

Because the question was so obviously asked in a lull to embarrass him,
Irving was embarrassed. The interest of all the boys at the table had
been skillfully excited, and Westby leaned forward in front of Carroll,
with mischievous eyes and smile. Irving felt his color rising; he felt
both abashed and annoyed.

"Why, yes," he said hesitatingly. "I--I was a little startled."

"Did they take you for a new kid, Mr. Upton?" asked Blake, the Fifth
Former, who sat on Irving's left.

"For a moment, yes," admitted Irving, anxious not to pursue the subject.

But Westby proceeded to explain with gusto, while the whole table
listened. "Lou Collingwood and Carrie here and I were in front of the
Study, and out came Mr. Upton. And Lou wanted to nail him for the
Pythians, so we all pranced up to him, and I said, 'Hello, new kid; what
name, please?'--just like that; didn't I, Mr. Upton?"

"Yes," said Irving grudgingly. He had an uneasy feeling that he was
being made an object of general entertainment; certainly the eyes of all
the boys at the table were fixed upon him smilingly.

"What happened then?" asked the blunt Blake.

"Why, then," continued Westby, "Mr. Upton told us that he wasn't a new
kid at all, but a new master. You may imagine we were surprised--weren't
we, Mr. Upton?"

"Oh, I could hardly tell--"

"The jok