Chapter IX. The Debating Club

“Lookhere,oldman,weoughttohaveameeting.Holidaysareover,andwemustbraceupandattendtobusiness,”saidFranktoGus,astheystrolledoutoftheschoolyardoneafternooninJanuary,apparentlyabsorbedinconversation,butinrealitywaitingforabluecloudandascarletfeathertoappearonthesteps. “Allright.When,where,andwhat?”askedGus,whowasamanoffewwords. “To-night,ourhouse,subject,'Shallgirlsgotocollegewithus?'Mothersaidwehadbetterbemakingupourminds,becauseeveryoneistalkingaboutit,andweshallhavetobeononesideortheother,sowemayaswellsettleitnow,”answeredFrank,fortherewasanimpressionamongthemembersthatallvexedquestionswouldbemuchhelpedbytheunitedeloquenceandwisdomoftheclub. “VerygoodI'llpassthewordandbethere.Hullo,Neddy!TheD.C.meetsto-night,atMinot's,sevensharp.Co-ed,&c.,”addedGus,losingnotime,asathirdboycamebrisklyroundthecorner,withalittlebaginhishand. “I'llcome.Gothomeanhourearlierto-night,andthoughtI'dlookyouupasIwentby,”respondedEdDevlin,ashetookpossessionofthethirdpost,withaglancetowardtheschoolhousetoseeifaseal-skincap,withalong,yellowbraiddependingtherefrom,wasanywhereinsight. “Verygoodofyou,I'msure,”saidGus,ironically,notabitdeceivedbythispoliteattention. “Thelongestwayroundissometimestheshortestwayhome,hey,Ed?”andFrankgavehimaplayfulpokethatnearlysenthimoffhisperch. Thentheyalllaughedatsomejokeoftheirown,andGusadded,“Nogirlscomingtohearusto-night.Don'tthinkit,myson. “More'sthepity,”andEdshookhisheadregretfullyoverthedownfallofhishopes. “Can'thelpittheotherfellowssaytheyspoilthefun,sowehavetogivein,sometimes,forthesakeofpeaceandquietness.Don'tmindhavingthemabitmyself,”saidFrank,insuchatoneofcheerfulresignationthattheylaughedagain,forthe“Triangle,”asthethreechumswerecalled,alwaysmademerrymusic. “Wemusthaveagamepartynextweek.Thegirlslikethat,andsodoI,”candidlyobservedGus,whosepleasantparlorswerethesceneofmanysuchfrolics. “Andsodoyoursistersandyourcousinsandyouraunts,”hummedEd,forGuswasoftencalledAdmiralbecausehereallydidpossessthreesisters,twocousins,andfouraunts,besidesmotherandgrandmother,alllivinginthebighousetogether. Theboyspromptlyjoinedinthepopularchorus,andothervoicesallabouttheyardtookitup,forthe“Pinafore”epidemicragedfearfullyinHarmonyVillagethatwinter. “How'sbusiness?”askedGus,whenthesongended,forEdhadnotreturnedtoschoolintheautumn,buthadgoneintoastoreinthecity. “Dullthingswilllookuptowardspring,theysay.Igetonwellenough,butImissyoufellowsdreadfully”andEdputahandonthebroadshoulderofeachfriend,asifhelongedtobeaschool-boyagain. “Bettergiveitupandgotocollegewithmenextyear,”saidFrank,whowaspreparingforBostonUniversity,whileGusfittedforHarvard. “NoI'vechosenbusiness,andImeantosticktoit,sodon'tyouunsettlemymind.HaveyoupractisedthatMarch?”askedEd,turningtoagayersubject,forhehadhislittletroubles,butalwayslookedonthebrightsideofthings. “Skatingissogood,Idon'tgetmuchtime.Comeearly,andwe'llhaveaturnatit.” “Iwill.Mustrunhomenow.” “Prettycoldloafinghere.” “Mailisinbythistime.” Andwiththeseartlessexcusesthethreeboysleapedofftheposts,asifonespringmovedthem,asagroupofgirlscamechatteringdownthepath.ThebluecloudfloatedawaybesideFrank,thescarletfeathermarchedoffwiththeAdmiral,whilethefurcapnoddedtothegrayhatastwohappyfacessmiledateachother. Thesamethingoftenhappened,fortwicea-daythestreetswerefullofyoungcoupleswalkingtoandfromschooltogether,smiledatbytheelders,andlaughedatbythelesssusceptibleboysandgirls,whowentaloneortroopedalonginnoisygroups.Theprudentmothershadtriedtostopthisguilelesscustom,butfounditverydifficult,asthefathersusuallysympathizedwiththeirsons,anddismissedthematterwiththecomfortablephrase,“Nevermindboyswillbeboys.”“Notforever,”returnedtheanxiousmammas,seeingthetallladsdailygrowmoremanly,andtheprettydaughtersfastlearningtolookdemurewhencertainnameswerementioned. Itcouldnotbestoppedwithoutgreatparentalsternnessandthedangerofdeceit,forco-educationwillgoonoutsideofschoolifnotinside,andthesafestwayistoletsentimentandstudy