“Dear me!” said the Professor, “that’s what I came to tell you; but your quarrel drove it out of my head.”
“How could anything else come into your head?” said Ned.
“Tell me what it is,” asked Tom, impatiently.
“The President has called the people to arms, to aid him in saving the country,” said Ned, fairly glowing as he spoke.
“Yes,” said the Professor, “is it not grand to think that we are aroused at last?”
“Well,” said Ned, “I have still more to tell you. I have enlisted.”
There was a pause of a few moments; then the Professor grasped Ned’s hand, and said simply:—
“My noble boy!”
“What do you say, Tom?” asked Ned.
“I’m going with you, old fellow,” said Tom; and he threw his arm over Ned’s shoulder, and smiled at the Professor.