Roger Brooks came nearest to being his friend of any , yet even Roger knew very little about him . Elliott had never before said so much about his personal affairs as in the speech just recorded . `` I 'm poor -- woefully poor , '' went on Elliott gaily . His success seemed to have thawed his reserve for the time being . `` I had just enough money to bring me through the Fresh and Soph years by dint of careful management . Now I 'm stone broke , and the hope of the Fraser was all that stood between me and the dismal certainty of having to teach next year , dropping out of my class and coming back in two or three years ' time , a complete , rusty stranger again . Whew ! I made faces over the prospect . '' `` No wonder , '' commented Roger . `` The class would have been sorry if you had had to drop out , Campbell . We want to keep all our stars with us to make a shining coruscation at the finish . Besides , you know we all like you for yourself . It would have been an everlasting shame if that little cad of a McLean had won out . Nobody likes him . '' `` Oh , I had no fear of him , '' answered Elliott . `` I do n't see what induced him to go in , anyhow . He must have known he 'd no chance . But I was afraid of Stone -- he 's a born dabster at mathematics , you know , and I only hold my own in them by hard digging . '' `` Why , Stone could n't have taken the Fraser over you in any case , if you made over seventy , '' said Roger with a puzzled look . `` You must have known that .
McLean was the only competitor you had XXXXX fear . ''
about at between by for in like through to with