"Richard," said Ford, "are you going?"
"Habn't heerd a word about dat."
"Don't you go back on your friends, Richard. Be all ready in time, sure's you live, and go with us, or I'll complain to Dr. Brandegee."
Dick's grin was a wide one; but he responded,—
"I'll be ready. See 'f I ain't."
The voice of Almira, calling his name at the foot of the stairs, prevented any further conversation just then; and Dick found, afterwards, that he had undertaken a task of some difficulty. He hardly knew when or where he squeezed out the time for the proper polishing of his shoes, or the due arrangement of his magnificent red necktie; but both feats were accomplished most faithfully.
The subject of church-going came up again, incidentally, at the breakfast-table; and the remarks of her young boarders met the emphatic approval of Mrs. Myers and her daughter. Perhaps because neither of them had been near enough, after Dick dodged out of their room at the end of his early call, to hear Dabney Kinzer remark,—
"Ford, don't you think we can find our way across the green without any help from the ladies?"
"I am pondering that matter. What do you say, Frank?"
"We must get out of it if we can politely. I don't just see how we'll do it."