THE OAKS. 95

I don’t mean quite that. But he is above begging, and
above being helped; and he never would forgive us if
he knew what we are saying.”

“There is no danger of that,” said Merriman, “for I
left him writing a letter to his sister in those funny
little slanting peaked German letters that we used to
quiz him about. I’m sorry I laughed at him so much,
for once I saw him dropping tears over the sheet so
fast that it must have blotted the paper. He will not
be down for an hour.”

“I tell you,” said Murdock, “we are in danger of
all going wrong unless we take advice, and there is no
better way than to talk it over with Mr. Barry. He
is always ready to help overyponys and he thinks the
world and all of Adler.”

“Good! good!” cried several; “ Barry is the man.”

“Yes,” said Mack; “and what is more, Mr. Barry
has been in Germany, and understands a good deal of
the language. J am glad you thought of it.”

‘So it was agreed to lay the matter before Mr. Barry,
the boys meanwhile determining to be ready with their
contributions. The bell rang, and they went to the
school-room with faces full of earnestness and ani-
mation.