“Don’t forget your promise to come down for the football game,” said Dan. “I’ll come, but I sha’n’t know who to cheer for.” “Hillton,” said Nelson and Tom in a breath. “St. Eustace,” said Dan. “I wish we didn’t all live so far away from each other,” said Tom. “You’re away up in Portland, Nel’s in Boston, Dan’s in New York, and I’m out in Chicago.” “You ought to live in a decent part of the world,” answered Dan. “Cut it out, you two,” said Bob. “Don’t get started on one of your arguments about New York and Chicago. They’re beastly holes, both of ’em. Come to Portland.” This suggestion brought forth three howls of derision. “Anyway,” said Dan, “I wish we might go to college together.” “Why can’t we?” asked Nelson. “You fellows all come to Harvard!” “I couldn’t,” Dan replied. “My dad went to Yale and he’d scalp me if I told him I wanted to enter Harvard.” “And I’m booked for Chicago,” said Tom mournfully. “Poor chap,” said Dan commiseratingly. Whereupon Tom flared up. “It’s a gu-gu-gu-good college, and you know it. Only I-I-I-I’d like to be with you fu-fu-fu-fellows!” “That’s easy,” said Bob. “You all come with me to Erskine.” “It’s such a little place,” objected Dan. “It’s got as much land as Yale, and more too, I guess.” “I mean there are so few fellows there.” “Well,” answered Bob thoughtfully, “maybe there aren’t very many people in heaven, but that’s no sign it isn’t a good place to go to!” “Do you mean,” laughed Dan, “that Yale is--er--the other place?” “Or Harvard?” asked Nelson in mock anger. “Or Chicago?” added Tom. “Well, now, as to Chicago, Tommy,” answered Bob, “you said yourself you were going there, and you know what you were Saturday night!” After the laughter had subsided they discussed the subject seriously and at length. In the end it was decided that if their parents would consent Nelson, Dan, and Tom were to join Bob at Erskine College three years from the approaching month--examination boards permitting. Incidentally it may be announced that their parents did consent, that examiners did permit, and that their plans succeeded. But that is a story all to itself and has nothing to do with the present narrative. Mr. Clinton had been called in to aid in the matter of the silver loving-cup for the Careys and had attended to the selection of it on one of his trips to Boston. On Friday it arrived. Lack of funds had prohibited the purchase of anything very elaborate, but the gift was quite worthy of acceptance. It was a plain cup, in shape like a Greek vase, seven inches high. The handles were of ebony, and there was a little ebony stand for it to rest upon. The inscription had caused the Four not a little worry. As finally decided on it read: TO MR. AND MRS. CHARLES A. CAREY A TOKEN OF ESTEEM AND GRATITUDE FROM THE FOUR AUGUST 18, 1904