“It’s a splendid place,” said Andy.

They were introduced to a number of the guests, including several young men from Pornell Academy, and then Laura and Flossie took them around the mansion and grounds, showing them various points of interest. The girls were bright and lively and soon succeeded in making them feel perfectly at home.

“I see you have several students from Pornell here,” said Jack to Laura, when they had drifted a short distance away from the others.

At this Laura frowned slightly.

“Yes. We did not expect them. They came to make a call.”

“Oh, I see.”

“One of them, Roy Bock, knows some of my mother’s people, and he comes on that account and brings those others with him.”

“He seems to be making himself at home.”

“Yes, he acts as if he owned the place. Flossie and I do not like them to come, but mamma doesn’t like to say anything, and pa is away most of the time.”

They took a ramble through the garden and into a conservatory, and Laura gave Jack a big rose for his buttonhole, while Flossie got roses for Andy and Pepper. These had just been pinned on when Roy Bock appeared, followed by three of his fellow students from Pornell Academy.

“So here you are!” cried Roy Bock, loudly. “We were wondering what had become of you. Spooning, I suppose?” he added, coarsely.

“We were showing our friends around the grounds,” said Laura, quietly.

“I just heard you were the chaps that pulled the girls out of the lake,” said a student named Grimes.

“Oh, anybody could have done that,” came from another, named Gussic.

“I suppose anybody could have rowed that race, too,” said Jack, sharply. The manner of the rival academy boys was very obnoxious.

“Oh, I heard how your school won that race!” cried Flossie, her eyes beaming.

“I guess our school didn’t have a fair show,” growled Roy Bock. “The Putnam Hall crew started before the pistol went off.”

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