Jo's Boys - Bibliotecadigital.puc-campinas.edu.br

Chapter 16 114which he answered, with a supercilious glance at the hot, dusty, and noisy crowd on the baseball ground: 'Theclass of fellows you have here need all the polish and culture you can give them; and I'm glad they get it. Ourmen are largely from the best families all over the country, so we don't need girls to teach us anything.''It's a pity you don't have more of such "fellows" as ours. They value and use well what college gives them,and aren't satisfied to slip through, getting all the fun they can and shirking the work. Oh, I've heard you"men" talk, and heard your fathers say they wish they hadn't wasted time and money just that you might sayyou'd been through college. As for the girls, you'll be much better off in all ways when they do get in, andkeep you lazy things up to the mark, as we do here.''If you have such a poor opinion of us, why do you wear our colour?' asked Dolly, painfully conscious that hewas not improving the advantages his Alma Mater offered him, but bound to defend her.'I don't; my hat is scarlet, not crimson. Much you know about a colour,' scoffed Josie.'I know that a cross cow would soon set you scampering, if you flaunted that red tile under her nose,' retortedDolly.'I'm ready for her. Can your fine young ladies do this? or you either?' and burning to display her latestaccomplishment, Josie ran to the nearest gate, put one hand on the top rail, and vaulted over as lightly as abird.Bess shook her head, and Stuffy languidly applauded; but Dolly scorning to be braved by a girl, took a flyingleap and landed on his feet beside Josie, saying calmly: 'Can you do that?''Not yet; but I will by and by.'As his foe looked a little crestfallen, Dolly relented, and affably added sundry feats of a like nature, quiteunconscious that he had fallen into a dreadful snare; for the dull red paint on the gate, not being used to suchvigorous handling, came off in streaks upon his shoulders when he turned a backward swing and came upsmiling, to be rewarded with the aggravating remark:'If you want to know what crimson is, look at your back; it's nicely stamped on and won't wash out, I think.''The deuce it won't!' cried Dolly, trying to get an impossible view, and giving it up in great disgust.'I guess we'd better be going, Dolf,' said peaceable Stuffy, feeling that it would be wise to retreat beforeanother skirmish took place, as his side seemed to be getting the worst of it.'Don't hurry, I beg; stay and rest; you must need it after the tremendous amount of brain work you've done thisweek. It is time for our Greek. Come, Bess. Good afternoon, gentlemen.' And, with a sweeping courtesy, Josieled the way, with her hat belligerently cocked up, and her racket borne like a triumphal banner over oneshoulder; for having had the last word, she felt that she could retire with the honours of war.Dolly gave Bess his best bow, with the chill on; and Stuffy subsided luxuriously, with his legs in the air,murmuring in a dreamy tone:'Little Jo is as cross as two sticks today. I'm going in for another nap: too hot to play anything.''So it is. Wonder if Spitfire was right about these beastly spots?' And Dolly sat down to try dry cleansing withone of his handkerchiefs. 'Asleep?' he asked, after a few moments of this cheerful occupation, fearing that hischum might be too comfortable when he was in a fume himself.