Part 18 (1/2)
”True for you,” said Andy.
”You're a head taller than any of the boys in your cla.s.s.”
”I know that,” said Andy. ”I haven't been to school as much as you.”
”I should be ashamed if I didn't know more.”
”So you ought,” said Andy, ”for you've been to school all your life. I hope to know more soon.”
”Anyway, you can play ball,” said Charlie Fleming.
”I'd rather be a good scholar.”
”I'll help you, if you want any help.”
”Thank you, Charlie.”
They had now entered the schoolroom, and Andy took up his book and studied hard. He was determined to rise to a higher cla.s.s as soon as possible, for it was not agreeable to him to reflect that he was the oldest and largest boy in his present cla.s.s.
”Very well,” said the teacher, when his recitation was over. ”If you continue to recite in this way, you will soon be promoted.”
”I'll do my best, sir,” said Andy, who listened to these words with pleasure.
”I wish you were coming in the afternoon, too, Andy,” said his friend, Charlie Fleming, as they walked home together.
”So do I, Charlie, but I must work for my mother.”
”That's right, Andy; I'd do the same in your place. I haven't such foolish ideas about work as G.o.dfrey Preston.”
”He ain't very fond of me,” said Andy, laughing.
”No; nor of anybody else. He only likes G.o.dfrey Preston.”
”We got into a fight the first day I ever saw him.”
”What was it about?”
”He called my mother names, and hit me. So I knocked him flat.”
”You served him right. He's disgustingly conceited. n.o.body likes him.”
”Ben Travers goes around with him all the time.”
”Ben likes him because he is rich. If he should lose his property, you'd see how soon he would leave him. That isn't a friend worth having.”
”I've got one consolation,” said Andy, laughing; ”n.o.body likes me for my money.”
”But someone likes you for yourself, Andy,” said Charlie.