human
You are too popular for your own good, Van. No, I'm not throwing spinach, straight I'm not. What I mean is that everybody likes you. Why, there isn't a more popular boy in the school! That's why you get pulled into every sort of thing that's going. It's all right, too, only if you expect to study any you've got to rise up in your boots and take a stand. That's why I shut myself up and grind regularly part of every evening. I don't enjoy doing it, but it's the only way.
gpt
Goodness knows, Bobbie, if one of us didn't grind neither of us would get anywhere. By the way, did you manage to dig out that Caesar for to-morrow? Fire away and give me the product of your mighty brain. I guess I can memorize the translation if you read it to me enough times.
human
Well?
gpt
I don't think it is a straight thing for me to translate your Latin for you every day, Van, he said at last.
human
You ought not to ask me to do it.
gpt
I know it; it's mighty low down--I acknowledge that, answered Van frankly.
human
But what would you have me do? Flunk it? Come on. I'll get it myself next time.
gpt
That's what you always say, Van, but you never do.
human
But I tell you I will. This week I've been so rushed with the Glee Club rehearsals I couldn't do a thing. But you wait and view yours truly next week.
gpt
That's a gentleman, Bobbie. Some time when you're drowning I'll throw a plank to you. I knew you'd save my life.
human
I do not approve of doing it at all, Bob observed, still searching for the place in the much worn brown text-book.
gpt
I've done about all your studying this term.
human
I own it, oh Benefactor. Are you not my brain--my intellectual machinery? Could I live a day without you?
gpt
If it weren't for me you'd be dropped back into the next class--that's what would happen to you; and you deserve it, too.
human
I know it. I haven't put in an hour of solid work for a month, Bob I ought to be ashamed, and I am. He paused.
gpt
But there's no use jumping all over myself if I haven't, he resumed, shifting to a more sprightly tone.
human
I've said I was going to take a spurt soon and I mean it. I'll begin next week.
gpt
Why not start to-day?
human
Why not? echoed Van, moving toward the door with evident relief.
gpt
Don't you see I can't? Somebody's always breaking in on my work. Here's somebody this very minute.
human
Mail. A parcels-post package for you, Bob. I'll bet it's eats. Your mother's a corker at sending you things; I wish my mother sent me something now and then.
gpt
Well, it's a little different with you. Your family live so far out west they can't very well mail grub to you; but Mater is right here in New York, and of course as she's near by she'd be no sort of a mother if she didn't send me something beside this prison fare. Come on and see what it is this time.
human
Plum-cake! he cried.
gpt
A dandy great loaf! And here's olives, and preserved ginger, and sweet chocolate. She's put in salted almonds, too; and look--here's a tin box of Hannah's molasses cookies, the kind I used to like when I was a kid. Isn't my mother a peach?
human
She sure is; and she must think a lot of you, said Van slowly.
gpt
I wish my mother'd ever--
human
Maybe if you pitched in a little harder here she'd feel--
gpt
Oh, cut out the preaching, Bobbie, was the impatient retort.
human
I've had enough for one day.
gpt
Oh, listen to this, Van, he shouted excitedly.
human
Mother says they have decided to open the New Hampshire house for Easter. They're going up for my spring vacation and take in the sugaring off. What a lark! And listen to this. She writes: 'You'd better arrange to bring your roommate home with you for the holiday unless he has other plans.'
gpt
Oh, I say!
human
Could you go, Van?
gpt
I don't see why I couldn't. I'm not going home to Colorado. It's too far. I was thinking of going to Boston with Ted Talbot, but I'd a good sight rather go batting with you, Bobbie, old man. It was fine of your mother to ask me. Where is the place?
human
Our farm? It's in Allenville, New Hampshire, near Mount Monadnock. It used to be my grandfather's home, and after he died and we all moved to New York Father fixed it over and kept it so we could go there summers. I've never been up in the spring, though. It will be no end of fun.
gpt
I hope you do not call this weather spring,
human
Well, it is the middle of March, and it ought to be spring, if it isn't, answered Bob.
gpt
Just think! Only a week more of cramming; then the exams, and we're off. I'm awfully glad you can go.
human
You speak pretty cheerfully of the exams. I don't suppose you dread them much. Van lapsed into a moody silence, kicking the crumpled wrapping-paper into the fireplace.
gpt
You don't need to worry, Bob. But look at me. I'll be lucky if I squeak through at all. Of course I've never really flunked, but I've been so on the ragged edge of going under so many times that it's no fun.
human
Cheer up! You'll get through. Why, man alive, you've got to. Now come on and get at this Latin and afterward we'll pitch into the plum-cake.
gpt
What do you say we pitch into the cake first?
human
No, sir. Not a bite of cake will you get until you have done your Caesar. Come on, Van, like a good kid, and have it over; then we'll eat and talk about Allenville.
gpt
Here we are! You've got to do it, Van, and to-morrow you'll be glad that you did. Stop fooling with that paper and bring your chair round this side of the desk. Begin here: _Cum Caesar esset_--