“I should hope not!”

“Come into my private office won’t you, Prescott?” asked the lawyer, leading the way through his outer office.

The elder Ripley placed a comfortable arm-chair for his freshman caller, asking him to be seated.

Though Lawyer Ripley was, ordinarily, a rather pompous and purseproud sort of man, it was plain that he realized a debt of gratitude, and meant to pay it as graciously as he knew how to do.

“You have performed a most valuable service for me, Prescott,” began the Sawyer again, in a heavy, solemn voice.

“You are quite welcome to the service, Mr. Ripley, and I hope you won’t think any more about it,” Dick replied.

“But it is impossible that I forget it,” replied the lawyer, raising his eyebrows in some astonishment.  “You saved the life of my son, my only child.”

“At not very much risk to myself, sir,” smiled the freshman.  “I was able, soon after, to go in and win a skating race.”

“At not much risk?” repeated the lawyer.  “Why, your life was in very considerable danger.  Do you call that little?”

“Almost any of the High School fellows would have done it, Mr. Ripley.”

“But none of them did.”

“Because I happened to be right at hand, and jumped in first—–­that was all,” Dick insisted.

“Young man, I am not going to allow you to make little of the great service that you did me.  I—–­ah, here comes the young man we’ve been discussing.”  The lawyer changed the subject as Fred entered.  “Frederick, you are late, and, on an occasion of this kind, I could hope that you would be more prompt.”

“My watch was slow,” replied Fred Ripley, using one hand to cover a slight yawn.

“Don’t you see who is here?” demanded his father.

“Yes, sir.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

“How do you do?” nodded Dick, for Lawyer Ripley was looking curiously from one boy to the other.

“Don’t you—–­er—–­consider, Frederick, that it would be an excellent idea if you were to offer your hand to Mr. Prescott?” demanded the lawyer.

The ordeal was as distasteful to Dick as it could possibly have been to the Ripley heir.  Yet Dick got quickly up out of his chair, accepting the slowly proffered hand of the sophomore.

“That’s better,” smiled the lawyer.  “Now, I’ll leave you two together for the moment.”

The lawyer closed the door behind him as he stepped into the outer office.

Fred Ripley glanced covertly at Dick, who had remained standing.  Even as big a sneak as young Ripley had shown himself at times to be, he knew perfectly well that he owed it, even to himself, to try to be gracious with the lad who had saved his life.

But Dick said nothing, nor did he glance particularly at the sophomore.  That made it all the harder for Fred to find something to say.  The clock in the room ticked.  Dick, to relieve the awkwardness of the situation, strolled over to a window and stood looking out.