Vacation had now set in in earnest and presently most of the fellows belonging to Frank's set would be separating, as their families went to various seaside resorts, or the mountains for the summer.
Ralph meant to go back home to Scarsdale, and find some sort of employment while waiting to hear from Frank's lawyer uncle, who was following Mrs. John Langworthy over to England. But when Frank heard this he drew the other aside.
"My father has taken a great interest in you, Ralph," he said, earnestly, "and through me he wants to extend an invitation to you to go with us up in the mountains for vacation. We've got a big place there, and the fishing is fine in the river. Besides, we have boats and horses, and you'll have a pretty fine time. He says he won't take 'no' for an answer, so make up your mind it's settled."
Ralph could really say nothing at first. He was utterly overcome by the generous offer that took him so by surprise. Then, when he started to weakly protest, Helen came to the assistance of her brother; so that between the two of them all of his scruples were brushed aside.
"You see Paul Bird's father has an adjoining place, and we're together pretty much all the time. They have quite a family of girls, and that makes it nice for Helen—I'm speaking of the girls now, not Paul," with a wink at Ralph.
"And while about it you might as well tell how my chum Minnie expects to spend a month or two with me; which makes it particularly nice, for Frank!" remarked Helen, with a little maliciousness in her manner, "for," she was accustomed to saying, "when Frank's around I see so little of my dearest friend."
"Besides," observed Frank, when he and Ralph were planning it over up in the sanctity of his den, "I'd like to be on hand when you meet the lady you're expecting sooner or later to arrive. I hope I deserve that privilege, old fellow, because of the great interest I've had in all that concerns you."
"You deserve everything, Frank, for you've been as close as a brother to me. I shiver to think what a lonely life I would have led here in Columbia only for the generous big-hearted way you and your friends took me in on trust. I can never forget it, never do enough in return," said Ralph, with tears in his eyes, for he felt very keenly upon this matter.
"Shucks! the favor is all on the other side. We've enjoyed your company to the limit. Outside of Paul, there isn't a fellow I've come to care so much for, even good old Lanky. Forget all about your troubles for a time, and try to have just a bully good vacation. When the proper day arrives I'm sure it will be all right, and your dearest wish come true."
That was the way Frank talked, and who could withstand his arguments. Ralph was soon feeling quite merry again, and entered into the preparations for going off to the country with all the animation any ordinary care-free boy would be expected to show.