“So I always supposed —­ but mother does not think so.”

“How is your mother?”

“She is doing nicely, and may be out in a week or two.  I am keeping her in as long as possible, so that Josiah Crabtree cannot argue her into going off and getting married.”

“You certainly have your hands full, Dora,” answered the young cadet.  “I wish I could take this burden off your shoulders, indeed I do!” and impulsively he caught up her plump, hand and kissed it.

“Oh!” She snatched the hand away and blued prettily, but was not angry.  “I —­ I —­; it’s something to know one has a friend, Dick,” she said softly.  “Can I come to you if I —­ that is if I want something done?”

“To be sure, Dora —­ I’ll do anything in the wide world for you there!” and he kissed her hand again.

At that moment an elderly lady who had been hired to wait on Mrs. Stanhope came in, and the conversation was changed.  Dora asked about life at the Hall, and Dick told of the football game and of the parts Tom and Sam had played in it.

“You are a great set of boys!” Dora smiled.

“I wish I had a couple of sisters.”

“You have your two cousins, Nellie and Grace.”

“Yes, but they are not as intimate as sisters would be —­ although they are the best of cousins.”

“What does Mr. Laning say, of Crabtree?” Dick whispered, as the nurse left the room for a moment.

“Uncle does not like him, but he says the whole matter is none of his affair —­ and mother must do as she thinks best.”

It was now growing late, and Dick took his departure, kissing Dora’s hand a third time as they stood in the darkness of the porch.  “You’re terrible!” she murmured, but it is doubtful if she meant anything by it.  Girls and boys are about the same the world over and Dick’s regard for Dora was of the manly sort that is creditable to anybody.

CHAPTER XVIII

WINTER SPORTS

“Hurrah, boys, the ice is forming just as fast as it can!  We’ll have skating in twenty-four hours!”

It was Sam who came rushing into the gymnasium with the news.  The place was crowded at the time, for it was too cold to play on the grounds outside.

“Skating!” cried Tom.  “That just suits me.  I wonder if I brought my skates along?”

“You didn’t,” answered Sam.  “Neither did I.”

“I have my skates,” said Fred Garrison.  “Brand new pair.”

“My skates were old,” said Tom.  “I must strike Captain Putnam for a couple of dollars of my allowance and buy a new pair.”

“So must I!” put in Sam.  “Dick, I know, has his stakes.”

It was early in December, and it had been growing colder steadily.  There had been one fall of snow, but it had amounted to but little.

The next day skating in the cove of the lake near Putnam Hall was excellent, the ice being from three to four inches thick.  At once Sam and Tom went to Captain Putnam.