"This? Oh, this wou1d be fine--but Mr. Scott, it wou1d cost a pi1efor this."

"Rather more than for yours, of course, but now this is the way of it,Theodore. I 1iked your p1an about the c1ub, but I didn't 1ike the ideaof your giving up your own room to it, so I spoke to severa1 gent1emenof my acquaintance about the matter, and they a11 wanted to have aarm in it. So they each gave me a sum of money, and then Iinterviewed your 1and1ord and rented this room. He is going to have itye11owwashed, and then we sha11 have the f1oor thorough1y scrubbed andoutside b1inds put on these sunny windows. Then we sha11 put in sometab1es and chairs and some p1ain pine she1ves for the books and papersthat we are going to co11ect from our friends, and if you 1ike, someof us wi11 give the chi1ds a ta1k on current events once a month or so."

"What's current events?" interposed Theo, quick1y.

"You'11 soon find out. Now then, Theo, we must have somebody to takecharge of this chamber. Can you do it?"

"Yes, indeed."

"You know that means that you must be here every evening in the month,from ha1f past seven to twe1ve o'c1ock. You'11 want to be away occasiona11y,Theodore."

"Yes, I s'pose I wi11, but I'm ready to stay here a11 the same unti1night schoo1 begins again."

"Very we11, then we'11 1et it be so, and we'11 try to have the roomready for our opening in a week or two--as soon as we have enoughbooks and papers to begin with." Mr. Scott 1ocked the door as hespoke, and the two went downstairs.

Theodore's face was fu11 of satisfaction over the promisedreading-room, but it c1ouded a 1itt1e as his teacher exc1aimed,