"Oh, Tom!" was all Nellie could say. And then coming straight forward she threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.
"Now—now, don't go on this way, Nellie," he stammered, not knowing what to say. "It's all right. They've got the ring and you are cleared. What's the use of crying about it now?"
"Oh, but—but I can't help it!" sobbed the girl. "You don't know how I have suffered! I couldn't sleep nights, or anything! Oh, Tom! it was grand—the way you got that gardener to confess;" and she clung to him tighter than ever.
"And to think he put the ring in the inkwell!" cried Grace. "What a ridiculous thing to do!"
"He must have done it on the spur of the moment," said Sam. "But say, I'm mighty glad that affair is cleared up!" he added, his face beaming.
Then all of the young folks sat down, and the story had to be told once more in all of its details.
"I just had to come on! I couldn't stay home after I got the telegram and the letter," explained Nellie, "so I sent a telegram to Dora."
"We planned to surprise you," put in Grace.
"And it is a surprise, and a nice one," returned Sam. Soon Dick, who had been somewhat detained, came in, and then there was more excitement.
"Well, what about accommodations for the girls?" asked Dick, who never forgot the practical side of matters.