Part 33 (1/2)
”It must be,” answered Nellie, who was equally frank on all occasions.
”I don't know what else it could be.”
”But d.i.c.k hasn't done anything. I am sure of it. Why, I don't think he has seen her since we stopped at her home that time.”
”Well, he seemed very attentive to her here in the stand,” said Grace, ”and if you'll remember, he didn't meet us when we arrived. I am sure Dora looked for him.”
Tom gave a long sigh and shrugged his shoulders.
”This takes the edge off the victory,” he murmured. ”I thought the six of us would have a jolly time for the rest of the day.”
”It certainly is too bad,” answered Nellie. ”But I don't think Dora is to blame.”
”Oh, of course a girl will stick up for another girl,” retorted Tom, bound to say something in his brother's defense.
”Tom Rover!” cried Nellie, and then she showed that she was displeased.
It was quite a while before Sam came back from seeing Dora to the seminary. He, too, thought Dora was more to blame than d.i.c.k, and this did not altogether please Grace. As a consequence there was a coldness all around, and the rest of the afternoon dragged most woefully. d.i.c.k did not return, and at last Sam and Tom saw the Laning girls back to their school.
”A pretty mess of fis.h.!.+” muttered Sam on returning to Brill.
”Yes; and where is it going to end?” asked Tom dolefully. It was the first time there had been such cold feelings all around.
CHAPTER XIX
MORE COMPLICATIONS
The football eleven celebrated the victory that evening by bonfires and by something of a feast. Of course Tom and d.i.c.k were present, as were also Sam and a host of others, but it must be confessed that the Rovers did not enjoy themselves.
”See here, d.i.c.k,” said Tom after the festivities were over, ”what is this trouble between you and Dora?”
”Don't ask me, ask her,” returned d.i.c.k shortly. ”She knows more about it than I do.”
”She won't say a word,” came from Sam ”She said she didn't feel well, that's all; and I know that wasn't true altogether.”
”Was it that Minnie Sanderson?” went on Tom.
”If it was, it wasn't my fault,” answered d.i.c.k.
”But what did you do?” insisted Tom. He was bound to get at the bottom of the affair.
Thereupon d.i.c.k was compelled to relate all that had happened, which, in truth, was not much.
”And is that all?” asked Sam.
”Yes.”
”I don't see why she should be put out over that,” said Tom slowly.
”But then girls are queer. The more you know them the less you understand them.”