"Bobby!" exclaimed Mrs. Blake, putting out her arms to him. "My boy! I didn't want you to know—yet."
"He had to hear of the trip sometime," said Bobby's father.
"And I'm not going to make any trouble," said Bobby, swallowing rather hard, for there seemed to be a lump rising in his throat. He never liked to see his mother cry. "Why, I'm a big boy, you know, Mother. And I know just what you can do with me while you're gone."
"What's that, Bobs?" asked his father, cheerfully.
"Let me go to Rockledge School with Fred Martin—do, do! That'll be fun, and they'll look out for me there—you know they are awfully strict at schools like that. I can't get into any trouble."
"Not with Fred?" chuckled Mr. Blake.
"Well," said Bobby, seriously, "you know if I have to look out for Fred same as I always do, I won't have time to get into mischief. You told Mr. Martin so yourself, you know, Pa."
Mr. Blake laughed again and glanced at his wife. She had an arm around Bobby, but she had stopped crying and she looked over at her husband proudly. Bobby was such a sensible, thoughtful chap!
"I guess we'll have to take the school question into serious consideration, Bobs," he said. "Now kiss your mother and me goodnight, and go to sleep. These are late hours for small boys."
Bobby ran to bed as he was told, and this time he went to sleep almost as soon as he placed his head upon the pillow. But how he did dream! He and Fred Martin were walking all the way to Rockledge School, and they went barefooted with their shoes slung over their shoulders, Applethwaite Plunkit and his big dog popped out of almost every corner to obstruct their way. Bobby had just as exciting a time during his dreams that night as he and his chum had experienced during the afternoon previous!