CHAPTER XV.
THE BOAT RACE.
The balance of that school year was a season of hard study for Joel.

It was not in his nature to remain long despondent over the loss of the Goodwin scholarship, and a week after the winter term commenced he was as cheerful and light-hearted as ever.

But his failure served to spur him on to renewed endeavors, and as a result he soon found himself at the head of the upper middle.

Rightly or wrongly--and there is much to be said on both sides--he gave up sports almost entirely.

Now and then West persuaded him to an afternoon on the links, but this was infrequent.