“My other shoulder feels lonesome,” said Mr. Stewart, smiling into Polly’s face.  The next second the bronze head was cuddled down also.  “That’s pretty nice.  Best game of rouge et noir ever invented,” nodded Neil Stewart, a happy smile upon his strong face.  “Now to proceed:  There are, thus far, eleven of us.  When we capture Gail we shall have twelve.  A round dozen.  Good!  Now how to get up there is the next question.  I’ve hit it!  Let’s make an auto trip of it.’’

“An auto trip,” chorused the others.

“Sure thing!  Why not?  Look here, people, this is my holiday.  Such a holiday as I haven’t had in years, and at the end of it is something else for me.  Harold knows, but he’s been too wise to give it away.  I didn’t know it myself until I came through Washington, but—­well—­it’s pretty good news.  I didn’t mean to blurt it out, but this is sort of a family conclave and I needn’t ask you all to keep it in the family; but up there in the Boston Navy Yard is an old fighting machine of which I am to be captain when I get back in harness—­”

“What!  Oh, Daddy!  Daddy!  How splendid!” cried Peggy.  “Oh, I’ve just got to hug you hard,’’ and she smothered him in a regular bear hug.

“That’s better than the promotion,” he said, his eyes shining, and his thoughts harking back to another impulsive young girl who had clasped her arms about him when he received his commission as lieutenant.  How like her Peggy was growing.  It would have meant a good deal to her could she have lived to see him attain his captaincy.  He always recalled her as a young girl.  It was almost impossible for him to realize that were she now alive she would be Mrs. Harold’s age, though she was considerably younger than himself when they had married.

And so it was settled.  Neil Stewart was to engage a couple of large touring cars for a month and in these the party was to make the trip to New London.  A man of prompt action, he lost no time in putting his plan into effect, and the following Wednesday a merry party set out from Wilmot Hall.  Each car carried six comfortably in addition to the chauffeur.

Each was provided with everything necessary for the long trip which they calculated would take about three days, and the pairing off was arranged to every one’s satisfaction, an arrangement known to have exceptions.  Mr. and Mrs. Harold, Happy, Shortie and Polly and Peggy were in one car, Mr. Stewart, Mrs. Howland, Snap, Constance and Wheedles in the other, the extra seat, Mr. Stewart said was to be held in reserve for Gail when Mrs. Howland should bring her to New London.

None of the party ever forgot that auto ride through Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.  The weather was ideal, and for the men just ashore after months of sea-duty, and the midshipmen, just emancipated from four years of the strictest discipline and a most limited horizon, it was a most wonderful world of green things, and an endless panorama of beauty.