The hockey season opened with the first hard ice on the river, and West joined the team that met and defeated St.Eustace in January.

There was one result of his application to study that Joel had not looked for.

Outfield West, perhaps from a mere desire to be companionable, took to lessons, and, much to his own pretended dismay, began to earn the reputation of a diligent student.
"You won't talk," growled West, "you won't play chess, you won't eat things.

You just drive a chap to study!" As spring came in the school talk turned to baseball and rowing.

For the former Joel had little desire, but rowing attracted him, and he began to allow himself the unusual pleasure of an hour away from lessons in the afternoon that he might go down to the boathouse with West, and there, in a sunny angle of the building, watch the crews at work upon the stream.