Luncheon was a gay affair, as Tom and Phil felt that it was their duty to make up, in a measure, for the strange action of Sid, in going off in company with a flashily-dressed youth who had practically insulted his chums’ companions.
In the afternoon there was a period of idling beneath the trees, walks along shady and moss-grown paths, and trips about the lake in boats, until the declining sun warned the merry-makers that it was time to depart. Phil and Tom took the three girls to Fairview, but they had no further sight of Sid that afternoon, nor was any mention made of him, though Tom rather hoped the girls would say something that would enable him to defend his chum.
For, somehow, in spite of it all, Tom felt that there was something he didn’t understand in relation to Sid. He was puzzled over it, grieved deeply, too, yet he could not condemn Sid.
But no mention was made of the little incident of the morning, and the two youths left, promising to come over again at the first opportunity.
“It was awfully kind of you to bother with me,” said Miss Harrison, as she shook hands with Phil and Tom. “I was rather in the way, I’m afraid, and I realize——”
“Why, Mabel, what a way to talk!” interrupted Ruth. “If they hadn’t taken you with us, we wouldn’t have gone with them; would we, Madge?”
“Of course not.”
“It’s awfully kind of you,” went on Mabel, as she turned into the college, leaving Phil and Tom to say good-by to their friends.
“Well, what do you make of it?” asked Phil, when he and Tom were on their way back to Randall.