There was silence for a moment, and then Mr. Baker went on:
“That is the conclusion we have arrived at after giving the matter serious thought. It will be the best thing in the world for you young men—boys no longer—to go away to some college. You will have regular hours and regular studies, which you have not had in the past two years. Not that you are backward, for you have kept yourselves well informed, and your travels have been helpful, in a measure. But you need regularity, and you are going to get it.
“Now we have here,” he went on, “catalogues from several institutions of learning. They are all good, as far as we can tell, and any one of them would suit me as a place for my boy. We have not quite made up our minds which one to choose. We want you all to go to the same one.”
“I should say, yes!” cried Jerry.
“We don’t want to be impertinent,” added Ned, “but we couldn’t think of going to separate colleges. We must be together.”
“Sure!” echoed Bob.
“Well, we are very glad we can give in to you on that point,” said Mr. Slade, smiling.
“Now we will proceed to the further discussion, which you interrupted with your strenuous foot race,” said Mr. Baker, “and we will let you help us decide which college you will attend. Now here is a catalogue that interests me,” and he held up one of a well-known college.