Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/99

Fritz went regularly to school; but he was not allowed to play foot-ball or base-ball or to skate, or to do any of the other delightful things which count for more with boys—or at least with some boys—than many of their more serious occupations. Fritz, indeed, often looked longingly at his friends, when he saw them starting off, after school, in pairs or in groups, bound, evidently, for the ball field. He did not like to be considered a milk-sop, and he knew that other boys were apt to express themselves pretty strongly about one who did not share their sports. He did not like to complain in letters to his father, because in every way his uncle was so kind to him. Yet he did think that some of the rules made for him,—that he should be in the house always before dark, and that he should avoid the sports that I have named,—he did think that these rules were rather hard for a boy of sixteen to obey. It was not strange, perhaps, since he had had so little to do with boys of his own age that when he came to know Amy he found her so very companionable. Their acquaintance had begun one morning on the beach, and as his uncle, Mr. Tomkins, came early each season to his summer cottage, in the three years of their acquaintance Amy and Fritz had spent much time together. As they were so near the same age, although Amy had read much more than Fritz, they were very congenial. Fritz, indeed, regarded with much admiration the tall girl who in many ways seemed older than he. Her ideas on all subjects were so much more decided, and she was so fearless in expressing herself.