Donald put his hands over his ears as the girls poured out their chorus, one on each side. Just then the rest of the family arrived.
“It’s very nice for Donald to have a vacation again,” said mamma, patting her big boy’s shoulder as she passed him. The younger fry fell on him rapturously. Donald was always popular among them.
CHAPTER XVIII.
AN EXPEDITION.
But Eunice and Cricket were not altogether satisfied yet. They were very silent during luncheon, which was rather an uncomfortable meal, in spite of the older people’s efforts to make it as usual.
Whatever face he put on it, to be rusticated under any circumstances was a hard thing for a proud fellow like Donald, to say nothing of his athletic aspirations.
After luncheon, Donald stepped into his father’s office for another word or two, while the others went up-stairs. A few minutes after, Mrs. Ward sent Cricket back to the kitchen with a message to the cook. The office door was still open, and Donald’s voice was plainly audible.
“Yes, this is terribly hard on Chester, for he has had the reputation of being a regular daredevil, and the Faculty immediately put him down for one of the ringleaders, whereas, you see, he wasn’t in it at all. A great chum of his was concerned, and the Faculty have pretty well got hold of that, and there’s still a chance that three or four of them may be expelled. Of course he won’t peach, for the only thing that will save anybody is for us all to hold our tongues.”
“And Chester was with you, you said?”
“Yes. We were especially lamb-like that night,—calling on Miss Vassar. It was so pleasant that we started to walk home, and met another fellow who rooms in town, and turned in for a smoke. We left him about twelve. We fell in with some others on the way out, who had likewise been in town, and then we suddenly got into the crowd of the others, and were all pounced upon together. Of course, sir, I can’t give the names of those who were really guilty.”
“By no means. And old Chester takes it hard, you say?”