Part 5 (1/2)
”Perfectly lovely-in spite of the troubles we had,” answered the girl.
”That's the kind of a trip I am going to take again-when we go off on our honeymoon, Dora.”
”Oh, d.i.c.k!” And Dora flushed prettily. ”How can you say such things, and in a crowd! Somebody may hear you!”
”Oh, I only want you to know--” began d.i.c.k, but just then Tom and Sam brushed up with Nellie and Grace, so the sentence was not finished. Dora gave him a meaning look and he held her arm considerably tighter than was necessary.
”Well, the picnic is off, and they are going to tow the steamer back,”
explained Tom.
”And the young ladies are to be taken back to the seminary in the college carryall and carriages,” added Sam.
”What a shame!” murmured Tom innocently. ”Now they are here I thought they'd stay till we went home.”
”Tom Rover! what an idea!” shrieked Nellie. ”Why, we've got to go back for our last examination, and to pack.”
”Remember, we are to go East on the same train,” warned d.i.c.k. ”Let me know just when you can start and I'll arrange for the tickets.”
”We are to leave Hope on Wednesday,” said Grace.
”That will suit us,” answered Tom. ”We might leave Tuesday afternoon, but it won't hurt to stay here one night more.”
”It will give us time to rest up from the last day's fun,” added d.i.c.k.
”Do you expect any fun on the last day?” questioned Dora.
”Do we?” cried Tom. ”Just you wait and see, that's all! We'll turn old Brill inside out and upside down!” he added, with emphasis.
CHAPTER IV WHAT FLOCKLEY HAD TO TELL
It was not long before the carryall of the college and several carriages were brought into use and in these the girls and their teacher were placed.
”We'll see you Sunday!” called out d.i.c.k to Dora.
”Yes, we might as well go to church together,” added Sam; and so it was arranged.
”But about those messages home?” asked Nellie.
”We'll send 'em-don't you worry,” answered Tom. ”We'll go right down to Ashton now-on our bicycles.” And then the turnouts rolled away, and the students of Brill were left once more to themselves.
”Well, those girls can be thankful that the fire was no worse,” was Stanley's comment.
”I reckon they are thankful,” answered d.i.c.k.
”They were mighty glad we came up with the boats,” said another student.
”Some of them thanked us over and over again.”
”Huh! I don't think the boats were needed,” muttered Dudd Flockley. ”The water isn't over two feet deep. They could have waded ash.o.r.e.”
”The water is four to six feet deep and the bottom out there is soft mud!” cried Tom, ”They'd either have to swim or run the risk of getting stuck in the mud!”