And now when he saw her sitting so easily on her horse, waiting for him, his heart gave a great leap. They merely nodded to each other, and Dr. Trevillian became actually merry and jolly in his efforts to keep up the spirits of the party. He would miss the lad sorely. He knew how his old friend’s heart ached at the thought of sending his boy out into the world, and he felt keenly for him, but it would never do to show it now. Dorothy and Bobbie talked but little, and soon they reached the point where they must separate. Bobbie took off his hat and shook hands with Dr. Trevillian. “I have a favor to ask of you, Doctor,” he said in his frank, fearless way, “Will you let Dorothy write to me sometimes, and will you object to my telling her about the college, and the boys, etc.? I wouldn’t expect her to do it often,” he went on, trying to repress the eagerness in his voice, “but I would thank you very much.” Dr. Trevillian looked a little taken back at this modest request, and he hesitated a moment, and then he saw Bobbie’s eager face and Dorothy’s flushed one, and he thought it would be no harm. “Very well,” he said, “I will make it a reward of merit, if you make a certain average with your studies, of which your father will tell me, and Dorothy makes the same with hers, once a month you shall each send a letter—is that satisfactory?” and the Doctor wrung the boy’s hand until it almost hurt. “Perfectly,” answered Bobbie, returning the pressure gratefully, “and I thank you very much. I promise you my letters will always come—will you promise also, Dorothy?” And Dorothy nodded, and without waiting to say good-bye, touched her horse with her whip, and was far down the road before her father had finished shaking hands with Mr. Tayloe. CHAPTER IV. It was five years before the coming home, and the going away of Bobbie ceased to be the principal event of the year, both at “White Point” and “Grey Cliffs,” and in fact to the whole neighborhood, and from the date of one arrival until the next all events and happenings were reckoned, for a truly royal time was made of these home-comings; and merry-makings such as never will be the same again, were indulged in to an unlimited degree. From morn till night was one continual round of pleasure, and nothing was ever too much trouble if it contributed to the young people’s enjoyment. “He works so hard all during the session,” said Bobbie’s mother, when his father was mildly remonstrating on the unceasing frolicking. “You know how splendidly he has done at school, how he never fails at anything, and now we must let him have all the relaxation he needs, poor dear, and there can possibly be no harm, for Dorothy is always along.”