fter she learned the cause of it. She stood in wholesome awe
of Mrs. Kinzer, and a "brush" with the portly widow, re-enforced by the
sweet face of Annie Foster, was a pretty serious matter. Still, she did
not hesitate about beginning the skirmish, for her tongue was already a
bit loosened.

"Wot's dis yer, Mrs. Kinzer, 'bout sendin' away my Dick to a furrin
'cad'my? Isn't he most nigh nuff sp'iled a'ready?"

"Oh, it's all arranged, nicely. Miss Foster and I only came over to see
what we could do about getting his clothes ready. He must have things
warm and nice, for the winters are cold up there."

"I hasn't said he might go,--Dick, put down dem eels,--an' he hasn't
said he'd go,--Dick, take off your hat,--an' his father--"

"Now, Glorianna," interrupted Mrs. Kinzer, calling Dick's mother by her
first name, "I've known you these forty years, and do you s'pose I'm
going to argue about it? Just tell us what Dick'll need, and don't let's
have any nonsense. The money's all provided. How do you know what'll
become of him? He may be governor yet--"

"He mought preach."

That idea had suddenly dawned upon the perplexed mind of Mrs. Lee, and
Dick's fate was settled. She was prouder than ever of her boy, and,
truth to tell, her opposition was only what Mrs. Kinzer had considered
it, a piece of unaccountable "nonsense," to be brushed away by such a
hand as the widow's.

CHAPTER XIX.

That was a great day for the boys, but, before the close of it, Ford
Foster had told his friends the news that Joe Hart and his brother Fuz
had been invited to visit with him.

"Will they come?" asked Dab.

"Certainly. That kind of boy always comes. Nobody wants to keep him from
coming."

"When do you look for them?"

"Right away. Vacation's most gone, you know."

"Wont they be ashamed to meet your sister!"

"Not a bit. They'll try their tricks even after they get here."

"All right. We'll help 'em all we know how. But, boys, I tell you what
we must try for."

"What's that?"

"One grand, good sailing party, in the 'Swallow,' before they get here."

"Hurrah for that! Annie was wishing for one only yesterday."

"We'll have all of your folks and all of ours. The 'Swallow' 's plenty
big enough."

"Mother wouldn't go and father can't, just now. He's trying a case. But
there's Annie and Frank and me--"

"And my mother and Ham and Miranda and our girls. Ham'll go, sure. Then
we must take Dick Lee along. It'd make him sick i