“Oh, that old statue!” cried Violet desperately, adding, while her face grew longer and longer:  “What fun will there be, I’d like to know, in going to Three Towers if you can’t go with us?  And oh, Billie, I was making such wonderful plans!”

Billie had to turn away to hide the tears that sprang to her eyes.  For to go to Three Towers Hall had long been the ambition of the chums, and now it was doubly hard to see her chance snatched away by an accident that could have been so easily avoided.  If only she had not been so foolish!

Violet came over and put a loving arm about her friend.

“Never mind, honey,” she said consolingly, forgetting her own disappointment in Billie’s.  “We’ll find some way to get to Three Towers.”

Billie smiled a wry little smile and made an effort to look as if there were still something to live for in the world.

“Laura told me that you thought your uncle might help you,” said Violet, after an interval of unhappily trying to think of some way out of their trouble.  “Neither Laura nor I will stir a step without you, that’s a sure thing.”

“Why, of course you will,” said Billie, stopping the swing short and looking at her chum in amazement.  “I’m sure your folks aren’t going to let you stay at home from the school they’ve decided on just because I can’t go with you.  Although,” and her voice broke a little, “it’s just wonderful of you, Vi, to feel that way.  You will go, of course, and you can write me beautiful letters about the wonderful times you are having.”

“I won’t do it!” cried Violet, springing to her feet.  “I’m not going to Three Towers without you, and that settles it.  I don’t care if I had a thousand parents.  Who’s that turning the corner?” she interrupted herself to ask.  “There’s something familiar about that walk.”

“Why, it’s Ferd Stowing,” said Billie, getting to her feet for a better view.  “My, but he looks happy about something.  I wonder what’s up.”

The next moment Ferd Stowing, one of the best-liked boys in the town, came rushing up the steps like a whirlwind, and it did not take the girls long to find out “what was up.”

“Hooray!” he cried, flinging his hat high in the air.  “Wuxtry!  All about Ferd Stowing and Ted Jordon!”

“For goodness’ sake, stop bellowing and behave,” Billie commanded.  “What have you and Teddy been doing now?”

“Plenty.  But that’s nothing to what we’re going to do,” crowed Ferd exultantly.  “He and I have at last persuaded our reluctant parents to send us to the military school.  You know—­the one that is only a little over a mile from Three Towers where you girls are going.”

Again Billie felt as if she had been treated to a shower of ice water.  Teddy and Ferd were going to Boxton Military Academy, and Chet—­her darling, loyal Chet—­would not be able to go with them.  Her own disappointment seemed nothing at all beside this new tragedy.