Part 26 (2/2)
When they rejoined the others each felt as if walking on air.
”But the ring--they'll be sure to see it, d.i.c.k!” whispered Dora.
”If they don't I shall be disappointed,” he answered.
It was Grace who espied the glittering circlet first and she uttered a slight shriek. Then she pointed it out to her sister.
”A diamond ring--an engagement ring!” she cried.
”Oh, how lovely!” exclaimed Nellie.
”Ladies and gentlemen, the future Mrs. d.i.c.k Rover!” said d.i.c.k, just a bit awkwardly, while Dora blushed the color of a peony.
”Oh, Dora!” cried Grace and Nellie, in chorus, and then each kissed her.
”I thought I smelt a mouse,” murmured Sam.
”Hail to the bride!” cried Tom. ”Say, d.i.c.k, isn't it proper to salute your future sister-in-law?” he went on, with a broad grin.
”I don't know--better ask her,” replied d.i.c.k, good-naturedly, and then Tom kissed Dora, and Sam did the same thing. After that Tom declared he ought to kiss the ”bride-to-be's cousins,” and started in, and Sam followed.
”Here, you kids break away!” cried d.i.c.k finally. ”I thought you said we had to get back before dark.”
”'Kids' indeed!” snorted Tom. ”My, how old we've gotten since we're engaged!” And then he grinned more than ever. ”But never mind,” he went on to Nellie, in a whisper. ”Just you wait and see the diamond ring I get you one of these days.” And this remark made Nellie blush as deeply as had Dora. Sam said something, too, to Grace about a ring, at which she laughed merrily and slapped his face. But when the boys were in the biplane and ready to sail away, and he held up a finger with a ring on it and looked at her questioningly--and longingly--she gave a quick little nod of her curly head.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”OH, d.i.c.k, A DIAMOND RING!” SHE CRIED.--_Page_ 161.]
”All ready?” asked d.i.c.k, at last.
”All ready!” replied his brothers.
”Then start her up!” cried the oldest Rover boy, and the others gave a turn to the propellers. Bang! bang! bang! went the engine, and Sam and Tom rushed to their seats.
”Come again soon!” cried the girls.
”Just as soon as we can!” was the answer.
”Be careful!” pleaded Dora. ”Please, please be careful!”
”We'll look out--don't worry,” answered d.i.c.k. He had to shout, to make himself heard above the noise of the motor. Then came the usual whizz and rush, and a few seconds later the Rover boys were once more in the air and bound for Brill.
d.i.c.k would have been pleased could he have allowed his mind to linger on the conversation he had had with Dora, but he soon found this out of the question. The wind had come up again, and was now blowing as strongly as ever, and he had all he could do to manage the _Dartaway_. Soon the big biplane commenced to pitch and toss like a small boat on the bosom of an angry ocean.
”Say, this is getting something fierce!” was Sam's comment, after a particularly thrilling dip. ”I thought we were going right down that time.”
”You hold tight!” yelled d.i.c.k. ”Don't let go for an instant.”
”I'm as tight as glue,” was the reply.
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