“What a bold young man!” was Dora’s comment after they had passed.

“He’s a student at Brill,” answered Dick.  “Not a very nice kind, either.”  Dick was much put out, for he did not like any young man to stare at Dora.

Ashton was soon left behind, and carriage and buggy bowled along slowly over a country road lined on either side with trees and bushes and tidy farms.  Under the trees Dick allowed his horse to drop into a walk, and managed to drive with one hand while the other found Dora’s waist and held it.

“Dick, somebody might see you!” she half whispered.

“Well, I can’t help it, Dora,” he answered, “It’s been such a long time since we met.”

“Yes, it seems like years and years, doesn’t it?”

“And to think we’ve got to go through college before—­before we can—­”

“Yes, but Dick, isn’t it splendid that we are going to be so close to each other?  Why, we’ll be able to meet lots of times!”

“If the seminary authorities will let you.  I understand they are very strict.”

“Oh, well, we’ll meet anyhow, won’t we?”

“If you say so, dear.”

“Why, yes, dear—­that is—­Oh, now see what you’ve done!—­knocked my hat right down on my ear!  Now, you mustn’t—­one is enough!  Just suppose another carriage should come up—­with somebody in it from the seminary?”

“I’ve got my eye open,” answered Dick.  “But just one more—­and then you can fix your hat.  They’ve got to make some allowance for folks that are engaged,” he added softly, as he pressed her cheek close to his own.

“Are we engaged, Dick?” she asked as she adjusted her hat.

“Aren’t we?” he demanded.  “Why, of course we are!”

“Well, if you say so, but—­but—­I suppose some folks would think we were rather young.”

“Well, I’m not so young as I used to be—­and I’m growing older every day.”

“So am I. I am not near as young as I was when we first met—­on that little steamboat on Cayuga Lake, when you and Tom and Sam were going to Putnam Hall for the first time.”

“No, you’re not quite so young, Dora, but you are just as pretty.  In fact, you’re prettier than ever.”

“Oh, you just say that!”

“I mean it, and I’m the happiest fellow in the world this minute,” cried Dick, and caught her again in his arms.  Once more the hat went over on Dora’s ear, but this time she forgot to mention it.  Truth to tell, for the time being she was just as happy as he was.

But presently her face grew troubled, and he remembered the look she had given him at the depot.

“Something is on your mind, Dora,” he said.  “What is it?”

“Dick, do you know that Tad Sobber is alive?  That he escaped from that dreadful hurricane in West Indian waters?”

“Yes, I know it.  But I didn’t know it until a few days ago, when Songbird Powell came to Brill He said he had met Sobber in Ithaca,”