He said this in a very low voice, however; and be kept well behind Bob and the girls.  As for Timothy Derby and Libbie Littell they actually never heard a word of all this!  They sat side by side in one of the sections and read together Spenser’s Faerie Queene—­understanding, it must be confessed, but an infinitesimal part of that poem.

The other passengers near Major Pater, without any doubt, were vastly amused by his condition.  The melting snow cascaded off his head and shoulders, and not a little of it went down his neck.  Such a military looking and grim-faced man, standing so stiff and upright, seemed all the more ridiculous under these conditions.

“H-r-r-rrp!” barked Major Pater, glaring at Tommy Tucker as though his eyes would burn holes right through that boy’s jacket.

Tommy sprang to attention.  He was in citizen’s dress, as was the major; but Tommy was sure the martinet knew him.

“What do you mean, young man, by pouring a bucket of slush over my head and shoulders?” demanded the angry Major.

“Please, sir, if you’ll let me wipe it off——­”

Tommy had produced his own handkerchief and made a feeble attempt to attack the melting snow on the Major’s shoulders.

“H-r-r-rrp!” barked the Major again, and Tommy translated it as meaning “as you were” and came once more to attention in the middle of the aisle.

One could not really help the angry gentleman, if one was kept standing in that ridiculous position.  And the passengers near by were more amused than before by the attitude and appearance of the two engaged in the controversy.

“Are you aware of what you have done?” demanded Major Pater, at last “Humph!  Tucker of the Fourth, isn’t it?”

“Ye—­ye—­yes, sir,” gasped Tommy.  Then:  “One of the Tuckers, sir.”

“Oh!  Ah!  Can there be two such awkward Tuckers?” demanded Major Paten “Humph!  Is this your father, Tucker?”

For by this time Uncle Dick saw what was going on and he approached, smiling it must be confessed, but with a towel secured from the men’s lavatory.

“I am acting in the capacity of guardian for the present, sir,” said Mr. Gordon frankly.  “This is a ridiculous thing; but I do not think the boy quite intended all that happened.”

At once he began flicking away the melted snow, and then rubbed Major Pater’s bald head dry.  All the time he continued to talk to the military academy instructor: 

“I grant you that it looks very awkward on Tucker’s part.  But, you see, Mr.—­er—?”

“Ma—­Major Pater!” stammered Tommy Tucker.

“Quite so.  Major, of course.  Major Pater, you will realize that the boy in coming along the aisle—­Er, by the way, Tommy, what were you coming for?”

“I was coming to you, Mr. Gordon, to show you how fast the snow was gathering.  I—­I scraped that ball of it off the step.  The porter opened the door for me just a moment.  I say, Mr. Gordon, it’s a fierce storm!”