By order of the Faculty, FERDINAND DIKES, _Registrar_. Ray and I looked at each other for an instant, unable to say a word. Our letters dropped to the floor; a glad exclamation escaped us, and then we fell forward into each other’s arms, and hugged each other in transports of delight. Tony Larcom, who was sitting on the side of the bed, watched the demonstration for a while in amused silence; and then, unable to keep still, he rose and joined us. A good natured scrimmage took place, and the scene was rapidly becoming exciting when a step sounded on the stairs outside. “Break away, you fellows; somebody is coming,” exclaimed Ray. “Ray, Ray, are you there?” called a strong, cheery voice from the dark hallway. All three of us recognized the tones at once. They recalled vividly the delightful days we had passed at Cedar Hill three weeks before. “Why, as I live, it must be father,” cried Ray, as we turned gladly toward the door, which at that moment swung open. “Well, at last!” exclaimed Mr. Wendell――for it was he. “I thought I would never find you. I have opened nearly every door in the building, thrust myself suddenly in on scenes where, I judge, I had no business to be, and have ventilated every skeleton the household closets contain. I fear I left the old lady on the first floor with a palpitation at my unexpected entrance.” “No fear of that,” answered Ray, laughing, and clasping both his father’s hands affectionately. “Mrs. Brown is accustomed to surprises: she has kept a student’s club for twenty years, and you couldn’t startle her now if you dropped a dynamite cartridge in front of her. She would simply raise her glasses and say, ‘Well, what is it?’――――But the surprise is mostly mine this time. What brought you on here?” “My son’s disgrace,” said Mr. Wendell, with mock earnestness. “Oh, you mean our suspension,” answered Ray quietly. “Well, then, I have good news for you. Read this,” and Ray picked up the letter. Mr. Wendell, who had shaken hands warmly with Tony and myself, now took a chair, and, putting on his glasses ran his eyes over the contents of the note. “When did you receive this?” he asked. “About twenty minutes ago,” answered Ray. “Then I have known all about the matter for about two hours longer than you,” said Mr. Wendell. “How is that?” asked Ray, in surprise. “I have been having an interview with Dr. Drayton,” said Mr. Wendell. “From all appearances, we seem to be last to hear the good news,” said Ray. “Tony, how did you come to know it without opening those letters?” “I got it out of Mr. Dikes, who gave me the envelopes to hand you,” answered Tony. “No one else knows anything about the matter.”