“That’s the big island in Lake Dunkirk, you know,” explained Laura to the Lockwood twins, who looked puzzled.
“Acorn Island is just the finest kind of a place for a camp,” said the enthusiastic Jess. “It’s just like a wilderness.”
“Right! The company isn’t going to cut the timber on the island till next winter. Father Tom says so.”
“I’ve been to picnics on Acorn Island,” said Nellie Agnew. “It is a beautiful spot.”
“Acorn Island it is, then,” cried Bobby. “Hurrah! We’ll spend our vacation there!”
She almost shouted this declaration. The girls had been lingering to talk in the high school yard and were now at the gate. Nellie suddenly tugged at Laura’s sleeve and whispered:
“Look there! what do you suppose is the matter with Professor Dimp?”
Bobby spun around at the word, having heard the sibilant whisper. She likewise stared at the rusty-coated gentleman who had just passed the gate, having come from the main entrance of the Central High building.
“Gee!” exclaimed the slangy Bobby. “What’s got Old Dimple now? What have I ever done to him—except massacre the Latin language?—and that’s a ‘dead one,’ anyway!” 8
The Latin teacher—the bane of all careless and ill-prepared boys and girls of the Latin class—was a slightly built, stoop-shouldered man who never seemed to own a new coat, and was as forgetful as a person really could be, and be allowed to go about without a keeper.