BOYS AND GIRLS
"Hurrah, Tom! Here's good news!"
"From Dick and Dora?"
"Yes. They will be here at half-past two. Dick stopped to transact
that business first, so he and Dora can spend the rest of the time with
us and with the girls at Hope. Isn't that just fine?" And Sam's face
showed his pleasure.
"All to the merry," was Tom's comment. "Say, I guess we can all go
over to Hope together, can't we?" he asked anxiously.
"We'll make a try for it anyway," returned his brother.
It was the day after the events recorded in the last chapter, and Tom
had declared in the morning that he felt better than ever. He had even
gone out on the campus to joke with Songbird and William Philander
Tubbs, and speak a few words with Spud. Stanley had seen him and kept
out of his way, and that was the only cloud on the horizon.
"I've got nothing on to-day after two o'clock," went on Tom, with a
grin. "How about you?"
"I've got a physics lecture, but I guess I can cut it," answered Sam.
"I'll get Spud to tell me all about it afterwards. I wouldn't miss the
chance to go to Hope for anything."
They had heard from Dick early in the morning by telegram, and now had
come in a message over the long-distance telephone. The oldest Rover
brother and his bride were making the tour in the Rover family car,
doing this for the express purpose of giving the others a ride when
they stopped at Brill and Hope. Dick of course wanted to see all the
boys at the college and Dora was equally anxious to visit with the
girls at the seminary.
Promptly on time the shrill tone of an auto horn was heard, and Tom and
Sam ran across the campus to greet the new arrivals. Dick was at the
wheel and Dora sat beside him, smiling and blushing prettily. In the
tonneau of the big car rested several bags and wraps.
"Welcome to our city!" sang out Tom gaily. "And how is Mrs. Rover this
afternoon?" and he made a profound bow and swept the ground with his
cap.
"The same old Tom, I see!" cried Dora gaily. "Are you feeling all
right?" she asked, quickly.
"Sure," was the answer. Tom was the last one to put on a doleful face
in front of a lady.
"Talk about style," came from Sam, merrily. "Nothing like keeping the
Rover name up!" And he leaped on the running board and shook hands.
"Did you have a good trip?"
"Fine. Not a puncture," answered Dick.
"Oh, it was just too lovely for anything!" cried Dora. "If Dick had
the time I'd like to go on a tour for a month!"
"I thought maybe you fellows would like to get in and run over to
Hope," went on Dick, with a smile.
"You couldn't keep us out," answered Tom, promptly.
"We telephoned for them to be ready for us," said Dora. "But you will
have to take our baggage out, to make room."
"Here comes Songbird, he'll look after that, I know he will," said Sam.
The would-be poet came up all smiles and shook hands. He said he would
do anything they wished and at once took charge of the things. Several
others came up, including Spud and Stanley, and there was a general
handshaking and a rapid-fire of conversation. Then Sam and Tom got in
the automobile and away went the car in the direction of Hope Seminary.
"Want me to drive?" asked Tom.
"Tom, you'd better sit in the back with me," put in Sam, quickly.
"This is Dick's outing, let him run the car." He was afraid that if
Tom got his hands on the wheel he might do something to put the crowd
in danger.
"All right, I'm satisfied," was the ready answer and Tom sank back on
the cushions.
The touring car was a powerful one and Dick knew how to handle it to
perfection. Along the smooth road they rolled swiftly, only slowing
down at the turns and where the highway was not in a good state of
repair. Dora turned around to talk to the others, asking about the
college, and then spoke about those left at Cedarville and at Valley
Brook.
"Mamma is real well again," she said. "Better, in fact, than she has
been in a long while. I know she feels relieved to think that Dick can
now take charge of all of her affairs, and of my affairs, too."
"Dick is getting to be a business man fast," remarked Sam. "With your
affairs and Dad's affairs he must be having his hands full."
"Oh, the more the merrier," answered the oldest brother. "I like it
better than going to college." But as he spoke his face became very
thoughtful. Clearly Dick had something on his mind. He was not nearly
as talkative as usual, Sam soon noticed that and so did Tom.
Presently the touring car came in sight of Hope Seminary, nestling in a
pretty grove of trees. Two girls were down by the stone gateway, and
both waved their hands.
"Grace and Nellie!"
"Here they come!"
"I told you they'd bring Sam and Tom."
"Doesn't Dora look sweet in that brown suit!"
"And how handsome Dick is getting!"
"Say, Tom looks awfully pale." These words came from Nellie, and as
she spoke she turned a bit pale herself.
"To be sure--he's been real sick," answered Grace. "But he'll soon get
over it, don't worry," she added, trying to comfort her sister.
By this time the touring car had come to a halt, and Dora and Dick and
the two college boys were getting out. Then followed more handshaking
and not a few kisses. Dora hugged her cousins and was hugged in
return. All felt very happy and their faces showed it.
Of course Dick and Dora had to tell all about the trip, how they had
gotten on the wrong road, and how a drove of cows had once blocked
their way, and how they had stopped at one hotel where they had heard a
concert given for charity.
"And the weather has been almost ideal," said Dick. "Only one little
shower that was just enough to lay the dust on the roads that weren't
oiled."
To give Tom and Sam a chance to "visit" with Nellie and Grace, Dick
continued to run the car, with Dora at his side, and all of the others
in the back. With Nellie near him, Tom seemed to brighten up
considerably and told a number of jokes that made everybody laugh. But
with it all, he was by no means as lively as was natural with him.
"I've got it all arranged to go to Spotswood," said Dick. "I
telephoned to the big hotel there to have a table ready for us. And
we'll come back in the moonlight."
"Oh glorious moonlight!" returned Sam, and gave Grace a look that
caused her to blush deeply.
"Say, let us sing one of the old time songs!" cried Tom, and started
one that had been their favorite ever since going to Putnam Hall
Military Academy.
"That's like old times!" exclaimed Dick. "But please don't sing so
loud or you may scare the car," and this sally caused a general laugh.
"Don't you miss the seminary, Dora?" asked Nellie.
"Of course I do, but--but----"
"She'd rather be with Dick," finished Sam, with a wink.
"To be sure I would, Mr. Smarty," came promptly from the bride.
"Wish I could leave college, as Dick did," put in Tom, with a glance at
Nellie. "I hate books anyway."
"Oh, that's because you are not strong yet, Tom," said Dora,
sympathetically.
"I've told him he ought to take more of a rest," said Sam.
"Oh, let's talk about something else," cried Tom. "I'm tired of being
held up as an object of sympathy. Look at the little calf!" he
continued, pointing to a field beside the roadway. "A fellow could
pick it up in his arms. Say, wouldn't it be great to introduce that
calf in Professor Blackie's bedroom some night."
"No more such tricks, Tom!" answered Dick, almost sternly. "You've got
to settle down."
"Oh, must I, Papa?" returned Tom, in a trembling childish treble.
"Yes, Papa, I'll be your own little good boy." And then another
general laugh went up.
"We hardly have any fun any more at Hope," said Nellie. "It's just
lessons and lectures from morning to night, and the instructors are
that sharp! Yesterday I missed a question in ancient history and I was
nearly scared to death."
"Humph! ancient history is enough to scare anybody to death. What's
the use of studying ancient history when there is so much history still
to come of which we know absolutely nothing?" and Tom looked around
with the air of a profound professor.
"Here is where we once came over in the _Dartaway_," said Dick, a
little later. "I guess you'll remember that ride," he added, to his
bride.
"Shall I ever forget it!" murmured Dora. "Oh, how glad I was to get
away from that horrid Josiah Crabtree and those Sobbers!" went on the
girl, with a shudder. She referred to a happening which has been
related in detail in "The Rover Boys in the Air."
"Well, the Sobbers are going to get what is coming to them," put in Tom.
"And old Crabtree, too," said Dick. "They told me up at the hospital
that the double break in his leg will make him more or less of a
cripple for life."
"Well, if ever a man deserved to be punished it was Josiah Crabtree,"
said Sam. "He was a bad egg from the first time we met him at Putnam
Hall. But I say, let us forget all that unpleasant past and enjoy
ourselves," and he started up another song, and the others joined in.
By six o'clock they reached Spotswood and Dick ran the touring car
around to the big hotel located there. Then they went inside and
washed up a little. In the dining room a special table had been set
for them in an alcove. There was a big bouquet in the center and a
small bouquet at each plate.
"Say, Dick, this is immense!" said Sam, admiringly.
"Just too lovely for anything!" burst out the Laning girls
simultaneously.
"How did you come to think of the flowers?" asked Tom, putting his
bouquet in his buttonhole and letting Nellie pin it fast.
"That was Dora's idea," answered the big brother.
"I thought it would brighten things up," said Dora. "It's our first
dinner together since--since--you know," and she blushed prettily.
"Since the wedding feast," said Sam. "Well, it's just A, Number One!
Couldn't be better!"
"That's what!" cried Tom.
Dick and Dora had ordered the dinner with care, so there was a
well-selected course, starting with tomato bisque soup and ending with
ice-cream and crackers, cheese and coffee. They had some dainty fish
and an extra tenderloin steak, and it is perhaps needless to state that
the boys did full justice to all that was set before them, and the
girls also ate heartily, for all were still in their growing years.
Tom created some fun by sticking some stalks of celery in the big
center bouquet on the sly and then asking Dora what sort of flowers she
had ordered mixed in. And Nellie told Dick he ought to make a speech
and he said he'd leave that to Tom, whereupon the irrepressible Tom
said he would deliver a lecture on 'How to Cook for Two Alone' if Dick
and Dora wanted to listen. Then the fun became general and lasted long
after the meal was over.
It was moonlight outside and presently all went to the broad veranda of
the hotel. Tom naturally paired off with Nellie and Sam with Grace,
and Dick and Dora wisely kept out of the way.
"We had our day, now let them have theirs," said Dick, to his bride.
"By all means, Dick," returned Dora, with a smile that made him pinch
her arm. "But listen, dear," she added, in a whisper. "Did you--did
you notice Tom?"
"Yes."
"He tries to keep up, but he isn't himself at all."
"I know it, and so does Sam, and, I might as well admit it, Dora, both
of us are a good deal worried," replied the young husband, gravely.