Frank noticed his repellent look, and it made him feel uncomfortable.  He was a warm-hearted boy, and wanted to be on good terms with everybody.  Still, he could not help feeling that in the present instance he had nothing to reproach himself with.

John went back to his seat feeling an increased irritation against Frank.  He could not help seeing that he was more popular with his schoolmates than himself, and, of course, this, too, he considered a just cause of offense against him.

While he was considering in what way he could slight Frank, the thought of the boat he was about to purchase entered his mind.  He brightened up at once, for this suggested something.  He knew how much boys like going out upon the water.  At present there was no boat on the pond.  His would hold six or eight boys readily.  He would invite some of the oldest boys to accompany him on his first trip, carefully omitting Frank Frost.  The slight would be still more pointed because Frank was his classmate.

When the bell rang for recess he lost no time in carrying out the scheme he had thought of.

“Dick,” he called out to Dick Jones, “I am expecting my boat up from Boston next Tuesday, and I mean to go out in her Wednesday afternoon.  Wouldn’t you like to go with me?”

“With all the pleasure in life,” said Dick, “and thank you for the invitation.”

“How many will she hold?”

“Eight or ten, I expect.  Bob Ingalls, would you like to go, too?”

The invitation was eagerly accepted.  John next approached Henry Tufts, who was speaking with Frank Frost.

Without even looking at the latter, he asked Henry if he would like to go.

“Very much,” was the reply.

“Then I will expect you,” he said.  He turned on his heel and walked off without taking any notice of Frank.

Frank blushed in spite of himself.

“Don’t he mean to invite you?” asked Henry, in surprise.

“It appears not,” said Frank.

“It’s mean in him, then,” exclaimed Henry; “I declare, I’ve a great mind not to go.”

“I hope you will go,” said Frank hastily.  “You will enjoy it.  Promise me you will go.”

“Would you really prefer to have me?”

“I should be very sorry if you didn’t.”

“Then I’ll go; but I think he’s mean in not asking you, for all that.”

CHAPTER VI.  MR. FROST MAKES UP HIS MIND

“Well, Frank,” said his father at supper-time, “I’ve been speaking to Mr. Maynard this afternoon about your plan.”

“What did he say?” asked Frank, dropping his knife and fork in his eagerness.

“After he had thought a little, he spoke of it favorably.  He said that, being too old to go himself, he should be glad to do anything in his power to facilitate my going, if I thought it my duty to do so.”

“Didn’t he think Frank rather young for such an undertaking?” asked Mrs. Frost doubtfully.