Edgar Clinton asked; and there was a
laugh, for the captain of the team was all wire and muscle and could not
turn ten stone.

"I am not one of that kind," he said; "but there is Wordsworth, who is
pretty near six feet in length, and who, if he gave his mind to it and
would but eat his food quietly instead of bolting it, might put some
flesh on those spindle-shanks of his and fill himself out till he got
pretty near to Wade's weight. A fellow ought to do something for his
house, and I call it a mere waste of bone when a fellow doesn't put some
flesh on him."

"I can run," Wordsworth said apologetically.

"Yes, you can run when you get the ball," Skinner said in a tone of
disgust; "but if a fellow half your height runs up against you, over you
go. You must lay yourself out for pudding, Wordsworth. With that, and
eating your food more slowly, you really might get to be of some use to
the house."

Wordsworth grumbled something about his having done his share last year.

"It all depends what you think your share is," Skinner said severely.
"You did your best, I have no doubt, and you certainly got a good many
goals, but that arose largely from the fact that there was nothing
tangible in you. You see, you were something like a jointed
walking-stick, and, naturally, it puzzled fellows. You have grown wider
a bit since then, and must therefore try to make yourself useful in some
other line. What we want is weight, and the sooner you put weight on the
better. I see Easton has not come yet."

"He never comes until the evening train," another said. "He always
declares it has something to do with cross lines not fitting in."

"It takes him so long," Skinner growled, "to fold up his things without
a crease, to scent his pocket-handkerchief, and to get his hair to his
satisfaction, that you may be quite sure he cannot make an early start.
As he is not here, and all the rest that are left out of last year's
team are, it is a good opportunity to talk him over. I did not like
having him in the team last year, though he certainly did better than
some. What do you think? Ought we to have him this year or not? I have
been thinking a lot about it."

"I don't care for him," Scudamore said, "but I am bound to say he does
put off all that finicking nonsense when he gets his football jersey on,
and plays a good, hard game, and does not seem to mind in the least how
muddy or dirty he gets. I should certainly put him in again, Skinner,