“Thought the train would never get here,” added Sam.

“Longest wait I’ve had since I was able to walk,” supplemented Tom.

“Oh, Tom, you big tease!” answered Nellie merrily, and caught him by both hands.

“Yes, we are late,” said Dora a bit soberly.  She gave Dick’s hand a tight squeeze.  They looked at each other, and on the instant he saw that she had something to tell him.

“How long it seems since we saw you last,” said Grace as she took Sam’s hand.  Then there was handshaking all around, and all the girls and boys tried to speak at once, to learn how the others had been since they had separated after the treasure hunt.

“We’ll have to look after our trunks,” said Dora.  “There they are,” and she pointed to where they had been dumped on a truck.

“I’ll take care of the baggage,” said Tom.  “Just give me the checks.”

“And we’ve got to find a carriage to take us to Hope,” added Grace.

“All arranged,” answered Sam.  “We are going to take you up.  Dick is going to take Dora in a buggy, and Tom and I are going to take you and Nellie in a two-seated.  The baggage can go in a wagon behind.”

“But I thought there was a seminary stage,” began Grace.

“There is, and if you’d rather take it—­”

“Oh, no!  The carriage ride will be much nicer.”  And Grace looked at Sam in a manner that made his heart beat much faster than before.

“Do you know, it seems awfully queer to be rich and to be going to a fine boarding school,” said Nellie.  “I declare, I’m not used to it yet.  But I’m glad on papa and mamma’s account, for neither of them have to work as hard as they did.”

“Papa is going to improve the farm wonderfully,” said Grace.  “He is going to put up a new barn and a carriage house and a new windmill for pumping water, and he has bought a hundred acres from the farm in the back, and added, oh, I don’t know how many more cows.  And we’ve got a splendid team of horses, and the cutest pony you ever saw.  And next year he is going to rebuild the wing of the house and put on a big piazza, where we can have rocking-chairs and a hammock—­”

“Yum! yum!” murmured Sam.  “The hammock for mine, when I call.”

“Built for two, I suppose,” remarked Dick dryly.

“Dick Rover!” cried Grace, and blushed,

“He’ll want it for himself and Dor—­” began Sam.

“Here comes Tom,” interrupted Dick hastily.  “All right about the baggage?” he asked loudly.

“All right.  The trunks and cases will go to the seminary inside of an hour,” answered Tom, “so we might as well be off ourselves.  We can drive slowly, you know.”

“Well, you can go ahead and set the pace,” answered his elder brother.

The buggy and the carriage were already on hand, and soon the boys and girls were in the turnouts, and Tom drove off, with Dick following.

As they did so they saw Dudd Flockley standing near, eyeing them curiously.  They had to drive close to the dudish student, who was attired in his best, and he stared boldly at Dora and the Laning girls.