Part 4 (1/2)

Jim thought it was doubtful.

”I believe they always play cricket in the summer term,” he said. ”But this will be a splendid change for him.”

”I hope it will,” said Drusie, with a sigh. ”But I am simply not going to think what we shall do if, after all our trouble, Hal turns up his nose at a fight on Tuesday.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: Hal running]

At tea-time Hal did not put in an appearance at all.

”He ought to be hungry,” nurse said, ”for he did not eat much dinner.

I wonder where he can be?”

Tea was over, and they had all gone out into the garden again for a last stroll before bed-time, when they saw him come running across the field, which was separated from the lawn by a sunk fence. Leaping this, he rushed towards them, looking brighter and happier than he had done since his return.

”I say,” he called out; ”whom do you think I have met this afternoon?

I have had such a splendid time; just guess.”

They shook their heads; they could form no guess at all.

”Well, you will hardly believe it, but Dodds is down here. Dodds Major,” he added, seeing that somehow his news did not produce as much effect as he had antic.i.p.ated.

”Who is Dodds Major?” Drusie asked.

”Oh, how stupid you are!” Hal cried; ”Why, I have told you about him in my letters lots of times. He is out and away the nicest fellow in our school. A big fellow, too, thirteen and a half, and simply splendid at cricket. He is leaving at Christmas, and going to the college.”

”Does he live down here?” said Drusie.

”No; he is staying at the Grange with his uncle, Captain Grey. He is going to be here the whole holidays. Isn't it splendid for me?”

”Why,” said Drusie, with a sudden sinking of her heart, ”will you be much with him?”

”Rather,” said Hal; ”as much as ever he will have me. Of course,” he added, with an important air, ”he is jolly glad, too, to find another fellow down here. We are going fis.h.i.+ng to-morrow in Captain Grey's trout stream. Dodds says that it is simply packed with fish. Won't that be jolly? I was playing cricket with him all this afternoon. He is going to play in a match that some friends of his uncle's are getting up next week, and he says that perhaps he can get me into it too. Won't that be jolly?”

In short, Hal was br.i.m.m.i.n.g over with good spirits. When, soon afterwards, nurse called Helen and Tommy to come to bed, Hal invited Drusie and Jim to come and sit with him while he had his tea, in order that he might chatter to them of his doings that afternoon, and about what he intended to do in future. And, of course, Dodds's name figured largely in his conversation, and neither Drusie nor Jim could help feeling rather glum as they heard how completely they were to be left out in the cold.

”It was a lucky chance meeting him,” Hal rattled on. ”After dinner I had a nap, and then I went for a stroll. I crossed over the river and went up the field that lies next to the Wilderness, and there, sitting on a gate, I saw Dodds. I can tell you I was surprised, and so was he.

We talked for a bit, and then he asked me to come and play cricket. We had an awfully jolly afternoon, I can tell you,” Hal added for the fiftieth time, at least. ”I am jolly glad that he is here.”

”Will you ask him to come over here and play?” said Drusie. ”It would be rather nice to have some cricket with him--wouldn't it, Jim?”

Hal looked as though his ears had been deceiving him.

”What?” he said. ”Ask Dodds over here to play with all of you? Why, you must be out of your senses, Drusie. The idea of Dodds playing with a girl! I say, how he would laugh!--We might have you, though, sometimes, Jim; you would be useful for fielding. I will ask him to-morrow if he would mind.”

Jim, far from being overwhelmed at the possible honour in store for him, privately made up his mind to decline it with thanks when the time came.

While Hal had been speaking, a sudden idea had occurred to Drusie, and her face lit up with eagerness and excitement.