"I will think it over," answered the head of Brill shortly. And thus
Flockley was dismissed from the office.
"It was certainly a wicked piece of work," said Songbird to the others in the room. "I really think somebody ought to be arrested."
Tom was about to speak when a footstep sounded in the hall, and a knock on the door followed. Sam opened the portal, to behold Flockley standing there, hat in hand. The dudish student was as white as the wall, his clothing looked dishevelled, and his shoes were un-blacked, a great contrast to the Flockley of old.
"What do you want?" asked Sam abruptly.
"I want—I want—" commenced Flockley brokenly. Then he stepped into the room and confronted Dick. "Oh, Rover!" he cried, "won't you—won't you please, please get Doctor Wallington to let me stay at Brill? Please don't let him send me home! I'll do anything—apologize, get down on my knees, if you like—but please help me to stay here!"
Flockley caught Dick by the arm and continued to plead, and then he entreated Sam, Tom, and Stanley, also. It was a truly affecting scene. They all commenced to speak. He had been so mean, wicked, so unlike a decent college fellow, how could they forgive him?
And then came a pause, and during that pause a distant church bell sounded out, full and clear, across the hills surrounding Brill. Dick listened, and so did his brothers and Stanley, and the anger in their faces died down.
"Well, I'm willing you should stay," said Dick, "and I'll speak to the doctor about it, if you wish."
"And so will I," added Sam and Tom, and Stanley nodded.
"But you ought to cut such fellows as Koswell and Larkspur," said Tom.