e us drive around to one side and we nearly went into a ditch,"
added Dora.

"And then, after we had passed, they burst out laughing at us,"
continued Nellie. "They certainly weren't a bit nice."

"We'll have to settle with Sobber and Pell for this," said Dick, and his
face took on a serious look that bode no good for the cadets who had
played so ungallant a part towards his lady friends.

CHAPTER XIV

AT THE ICE-CREAM ESTABLISHMENT

The Lanings and the Stanhopes had been in the best of health since
returning from the south. Mrs. Stanhope was no more the pale and
delicate person she had been, and her former nervous manner was entirely
gone. The cheeks of the three girls were like roses, and it was no
wonder that the Rovers thought them the nicest young ladies in the whole
world.

"Wish we were in a carriage," observed Tom, after the turnout had gone
on. "Then we might have gone for a drive together."

"I know what Tom would like," said Sam. "A nice buggy and a slow horse,
and Nellie beside him----"

"Humph, please change the names to Sam and Grace and you'll hit it
closer," answered Tom, his face growing red.

"I'm going to make up a poem about them some day," said Songbird. "I
shall call it--let me see--ah, yes--The Three Fair Maidens of
Cedarville."

"Don't!" cried Dick. "Songbird, if you dare to do anything like
that----"

"You'll have to leave Dora out anyway," said Tom. "If you don't, Dick
will get in your wool sure. He----"

"Say, what about Sobber and Pell?" broke in the eldest Rover, his face
quite red. "I feel like punishing them for making the ladies drive into
the ditch."

"We'll remember it," answered Sam. "If we catch them in Cedarville let's
speak of it and see what they have to say for themselves."

"Speaking about a party," observed Songbird, as they approached the
village, "do you realize that we haven't had any sort of a feast at the
Hall since we got back to the grind?"

"Fred was saying the same thing only a few days ago," answered Tom. "We
certainly ought to have some sort of a blow-out."

"Vot you vos going to plow owid?" asked Hans innocently.

"Blow out the stuffings from a mince pie, Hansy."

"Vere you vos plow dem to, Dom?"

"Blow them into your stomach. Have a spread--a feast--a fill-up, so to
speak--something to eat, cheese, sandwiches, cake, pie, pudding, jam,
oranges, bananas, lard, salt, plum pudding, toothpicks, ice-cream,
turnips, and other delicacies,"