id 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 T