The words failed, for, suddenly, she felt the barrier of constraint between the boys, and, with a swift impulse, not stopping to fear consequences, she drew their two right hands together, and darted one appealing glance at Quis.
This time he did not fail her.
“Yes, old man, you’re the one to be congratulated,” he cried, grasping Bobs’s hand so quickly that Jacquette’s part was almost lost. “My speech was an everyday oration, but that prophecy of yours was a stroke of genius. We’re all proud of it, I tell you!”
Bobs’s face lighted up. He tried to speak, but, before the words could form, his blue eyes had said it all, and Jacquette, standing close to them both, murmured, with a tremble in her voice,
“Oh, boys—I’m so glad!”
At that moment, the gentle fingers of Mademoiselle Dubois were laid on the clasped hands of the two young men.
“My little peacocks!” she said caressingly, with a quick, understanding glance from one to the other. “I am ravished to see the heroes of the evening clasping hands!”
“Bobs Drake, you sinner!” struck in a merry voice from over Jacquette’s shoulder. “How dared you? And to think that I should help you to disgrace me in my last moments at Marston! I acted just like a trained animal!”
“Louise! Louise! That scholarship!” Jacquette half-shrieked, whirling around and venting her deferred congratulations in a smothering embrace. “Here come the Sigma Pi girls to hug you! Look out for yourself!”
With the Sigma Pi girls came the fond mothers and fathers, the grandfathers and Aunt Sulas, the Uncle Macs and Aunt Fannys, the brothers and sisters, and all the rest of the proud, happy friends.