Round Bay upon the arrival of the
car at that station.

Nearly every horse and vehicle at Severndale had been pressed into
service to carry its guests from the station, and mounted on Shashai and
Star, Jess having brought them home for the holidays, were Happy and
Wheedles.

They had been unable to leave their ships as soon as Shorty, so taking a
later train had gone directly to Severndale. Their welcome by Peggy and
Polly was a royal one. When the party arrived at Severndale another
surprise greeted it as a very fat, very much-at-home Boston bull-terrier
came tumbling down the steps to greet them. To all but Polly he was an
alien and a stranger. Polly paused just one second, then cried as she
gathered the little beast into her arms, regardless of the evening wrap
she was wearing:

"Oh, Rhody! Rhody! who brought you?"

As though to answer her question, Rhody rolled his pop-eyes toward
Wheedles.

Of the happy Sunday and happier Christmas day space is too limited to
tell. At five P. M. Durand, Ralph, Jean Paul, Bert, Gordon and Doug were
obliged to bid their hostesses adieu and return to Annapolis, but each
day of Christmas week held its afternoon informal dance at the
auditorium, to which Mrs. Harold escorted her party, the mornings being
given over to work by the midshipmen, and to all manner of frolicing out
at Severndale by Happy, Wheedles, and Shortie, who seemed to have
returned to their fun-loving, care-free undergraduate days.

Yet how the boys had changed in their seven months as passed-midshipmen.
Although full of their fun and pranks, running Peggy and Polly
unmercifully, showing many little courtesies to Nelly whom all had grown
to love during the old days, and playing the gay gallants to the other
girls, there was a marked change from the happy-go-lucky Wheedles, the
madcap Happy, and the quaint, odd Shortie of Bancroft days.

But Shortie's interest was unquestionably centered on one golden-haired
little lady, and many a long ride did they take through the lovely
country about Severndale. Captain Stewart watched proceedings with a
wise smile. Gail and Shortie were prime favorites of his.

Happy and Wheedles had to do duty for many during the morning hours, but
the girls' especial escorts were punctual to the minute when the launch
from Severndale ran up to the Maryland Avenue float at three-forty-five
each afternoon, and they had no cause to complain of a lack of
attention, for many beside those who