At tea-time Hal did not put in an appearance at all.
"He ought to be hungry," nurse said, "for he did not eat much dinner. I wonder where he can be?"
Tea was over, and they had all gone out into the garden again for a last stroll before bed-time, when they saw him come running across the field, which was separated from the lawn by a sunk fence. Leaping this, he rushed towards them, looking brighter and happier than he had done since his return.
"I say," he called out; "whom do you think I have met this afternoon? I have had such a splendid time; just guess."
They shook their heads; they could form no guess at all.
"Well, you will hardly believe it, but Dodds is down here. Dodds Major," he added, seeing that somehow his news did not produce as much effect as he had anticipated.
"Who is Dodds Major?" Drusie asked.
"Oh, how stupid you are!" Hal cried; "Why, I have told you about him in my letters lots of times. He is out and away the nicest fellow in our school. A big fellow, too, thirteen and a half, and simply splendid at cricket. He is leaving at Christmas, and going to the college."