“After Christmas, Dan! Isn’t that bully?”
“Fine!” answered Dan bewilderedly. He looked at Mr. Pennimore for corroboration. That gentleman nodded his head.
“Yes,” he said as he climbed the terrace steps, “I thought I might as well give in now as later. You are a determined antagonist, Dan, and a graceful surrender is better than a humiliating defeat.”
“You couldn’t find a tutor!” crowed Gerald.
“Well, that’s true, too,” laughed his father. “Perhaps that’s the principal reason, Dan. That and the fact that I shall be abroad for two months in the latter part of the winter. If I take Gerald with me he will miss a good deal of schooling, and if I leave him at home in New York I’ll be worried about him all the time I’m away. It’s pretty bad being a hen with one chicken, Dan. So I concluded that I’d let Gerald go to Yardley when the new term begins. If it’s possible I want you and he to get a room together, or a couple of rooms, whatever’s best. I’ll go up and have a talk with Doctor Hewitt in the morning.”
“And we’re going to stay on here over Christmas, until school begins,” cried Gerald. “Isn’t that great?”
“I’m awfully glad,” said Dan sincerely. “You won’t have to bother about Gerald if you leave him at Yardley, sir. I’ll look after him as much as I can, and I’ll get him into our Society and introduce him to the best fellows.”
“Thanks, Dan, that’s what I want you to do,” said Mr. Pennimore. “Keep an eye on him and—well, I don’t want you to fight his battles for him, Dan, but maybe you can keep him out of some mischief.”
“Anyhow,” laughed Dan, “our buildings are all made of stone or brick and don’t burn easily!”
During luncheon Gerald refused to allow the conversation to roam for a single instant from the great topic and it was discussed and rediscussed from soup to finger bowls. Afterwards there was a lazy hour in the library during which Mr. Pennimore nodded over his book and Gerald exhibited his stamp collection. Then the touring car rolled up to the door and there followed a glorious trip that took them for miles and miles along the edge of the Sound in the genial afternoon sunlight and brought them home again as the twilight fell.