“Pretty nearly time for them, Mr. Upton,” said Westby.  “Feeling nervous, sir?”

There was more good nature in his smile than he had displayed towards Irving since the day of the track games.

“A little,” Irving admitted, and at that moment some one shouted, “Here they come!”

Over the crest of the hill galloped four horses, drawing a long red barge crowded with boys.  Collingwood climbed up on the gate-post.

“Now, fellows,” he said, “when they get here, give three times three for the Freshmen.”

The boys waited in silence.  Irving strained his eyes, trying to distinguish the figures huddled together in the barge.  The horses came down at a run, with a rattle of hoofs and harness; the driver flourished his whip over them spectacularly.

“Now then, fellows!” cried Collingwood.  “Three times three for the Freshmen!”

And amidst the waving of caps as the cheers were given, Irving could see no one in the barge.  Then when that cheer had subsided, one of the visitors stood up and took off his hat and shouted,—­

“Three times three for St. Timothy’s!  One—­two—­three!” The fellows in the barge sent up a vigorous, snappy cheer, and then overflowed at back and sides.  In the confusion and the crowd, Irving was still straining his short-sighted eyes in a vain attempt to discover Lawrence.

Suddenly he heard a shout,—­“Hello, Irv!”—­and there, a little way off, was Lawrence, laughing at him and struggling towards him through the throng.  The boys understood and drew apart and let the two brothers meet.

“It’s great to see you again, Irv,” said Lawrence, when he could reach and grasp his brother’s hand; he looked at Irving with the same old loving humor in his eyes.

“It’s great to see you again, Lawrence,” said Irving.  He could not help being a little conscious and constrained, with so many eyes upon him.

He tucked one hand in his brother’s arm and with the other reached for Lawrence’s bag.  Lawrence laughed, and with hardly an effort detached it from Irving’s grasp.

“You carry that, you little fellow!  I guess not,” he said.

Some of the boys heard and smiled, and Lawrence threw back at them a humorous smile; Irving blushed.  He led Lawrence away, towards the Upper School.  The other Freshmen were being conducted in the same direction by Collingwood and his team.

“Well,” said Westby to Carroll in an outpouring of slang from the heart, “Kiddy’s brother is certainly a peach of a good looker.  I hope he’ll bring him to lunch.”

CHAPTER IX

WESTBY IN THE GAME

It was with satisfaction that Westby and Carroll saw Lawrence entering the dining-room with Irving.  They had observed the long table spread in the common room of the Upper School, where the visiting team were to be entertained at luncheon, and had supposed therefore that they would have no chance of satisfying their curiosity about the master’s brother.