CHAPTER XIII
THE NIGHT OF THE BONFIRE
If Tony had enjoyed the sensation of expanding under appreciation thenight before the game, it reached fatigue point the night after. Itfalls to few boys, even for so short a time, to be the hero of hisschool; but it is one of the pleasantest experiences that can befallhim. It gives the hero a feeling of kinship with the mighty conquerorsof the past; a sense, intense if fleeting, of being one with Alexander,with Cæsar, with Napoleon. And though Deering bore his honors modestly,for this once he enjoyed them to the full; with the full-bloodednessof youth, he luxuriated in a sense of satisfaction with the worldin general and with himself in particular. He was not ordinarilyself-important, but it would have been an inhuman boy who remainedindifferent to the incense of praise he received after that Boxfordgame. To have turned what seemed certain defeat into unexpected victorywas a piece of good luck for which he was grateful, as well as he wasgrateful for the undoubted fact that he could run faster than most boysof his age.
Immediately after the game a score of boys, rushing across the lines,had laid bodily hold of him, hoisted him on their shoulders; and withsimilar groups, who had performed like service for other members ofthe team, they marched off the field, singing the school song at thetop of their hoarse voices, in dreadful tune but with an enthusiasmthat atoned for all defects. Jack Stenton was in the midst of them, andhe literally hugged Tony when the boys put him down at the entrance tothe Gymnasium locker-room. “I’m glad it fell to you, young ‘un,” hesaid; “it was a great run that will be remembered as long as boys playfootball at Deal.”
After his shower Tony dressed, joined Kit and Jimmie Lawrence, andwandered about the campus with them, enjoying to the fullest thesensation of universal proprietorship. At half-past six, they wentagain to the Inn to dine with Mrs. Wilson and the girls.
Kit had a black eye and a swollen nose that hurt considerably, butwhich he would not have foregone for the world; they made him feelas well as look a martyr to the cause. The girls were beaming, quiteunaffectedly proud to be the guests of such heroes. Kit’s bruisesseemed to affect Miss Worthington rather as ornaments than otherwise,to lend a fascination not afforded by his natural good looks, for sheacquiesced this time in the pairing off on the way to the school afterthe dinner, for the celebration, that afforded him an opportunity forthe much desired tête-à-tête. Mrs. Wilson appropriated Jimmie, so thatTony and Betty were left to walk together.
Alone with him, Betty ceased to beam; in fact, became shy andunwontedly silent. Tony liked the shyness, thought her sweeter so. Hefelt a pronounced sentimental thrill as he gave her his hand to helpher across an insignificant ditch.
“It must be wonderful,” she said at last to break the awkward silence,“it must be wond