"No, but I've got to do some studying."
"Studying? Why, there's only a little more school."
"I don't mean that kind of studying. I'm learning the different parts of a ship, so I'll know 'em when I get to sea."
Ted had momentarily forgotten about Bob's voyage.
"That's so," he said. "You'll be going away soon. Say, we ought to have some fun before you go."
"Guess I've played enough jokes for a while."
"But we ought to have one more. Come down to Mary Bounder's. Sam
Shoop will go. He'll catch the cat."
"Nope. I'm going home. I got a new book on sea terms, and I want to look at it."
"All right. Then Sam and I'll go. You'll wish you'd come. We'll have some fun."
But Bob could not be persuaded. His mother and father noticed the change in him, and they were delighted.