"Come on up! There's plenty of room on my chair!" cried the boy excitedly, at sight of the midshipman, "we've only just begun." His face was very, very red and his eyes were very, very bright.
"Oh, the good old summer time!
Oh, the good old——"
"Here, what's the matter with you? Let me alone! What?"
He dropped his arms and climbed soberly enough down to the veranda floor while his comrades continued their refrain.
"Orders! From the Admiral! Is he here? I didn't know that the Ohio had come in. With you in a jiffy."
"Don't wait," urged the midshipman, "it's important!"
The boy turned white.
"It isn't—bad news?" he asked apprehensively.
"No, no," answered the other quickly, remembering the news the boy had had the year before. "Just orders."
"Well, I won't spoil their fun," said the boy, echoing the sentiments earlier expressed by Follansbee. "Back in a minute, fellows: I've got to telephone! On with the dance, let joy be unrefined!"