Part 14 (1/2)

”They have been away a long time, remember.”

”Perhaps Mrs. Laning might go along. We could have a jolly time of it with six or seven boys and perhaps the same number of girls and ladies.”

The idea of having the girls along interested the three Rovers greatly and they talked of practically nothing else during the trip on Cayuga Lake.

Ithaca reached, they bid farewell to the last of their school chums, who were to depart in various directions, and then made their way to one of the hotels for dinner.

”There they are, mamma!” they heard a well-known voice exclaim. ”Oh, how glad I am that we didn't miss them!” And the next moment Dora Stanhope rushed up, followed by Nellie and Grace Laning and Mrs.

Stanhope.

”Well, of all things!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed d.i.c.k, as he shook hands warmly.

”Where did you drop from?”

”We were talking about you during the trip from Cedarville,” said Tom, as he too shook hands all around, followed by Sam.

”We were wondering why you hadn't written,” added Sam.

”We were going to surprise you,” answered Grace. ”We expected to get home yesterday and visit the academy. But there was a breakdown on the line and our train was delayed and that made us miss a connection.”

”We thought sure we'd miss you,” said Nellie. ”It made us feel awfully.”

”Have you dined yet?” asked d.i.c.k.

”No.”

”Then you must all come and take dinner with us. We want to hear all you've got to tell.”

”And we want to hear what you've got to tell too,” said Dora, with a merry laugh. She was looking straight into d.i.c.k's eyes. ”Have you had a good time at the Hall?”

”Yes, but we had a better time at the encampment.”

”I heard you met some very nice young ladies up there,” went on Dora.

”Who wrote to you about that, Dora?”

”Oh, never mind; I heard it, and that's enough.”

”Well, we did meet some nice young ladies.”

”Oh!” And Dora turned away for a moment. They were on their way to the dining room and the others were temporarily out of hearing.

”But I didn't meet anybody half as nice as you!” went on d.i.c.k, in a low tone of voice, and caught her hand.

”Oh, d.i.c.k!” She said this with a toss of her head, but smiled, nevertheless.

”It's true, Dora. I wished you were there more than once. I would have written more, only we had a whole lot of trouble with our enemies.”

”And you really did think of me?”