Later in the evening the college boys had something of a feast. A number had "chipped in" and bought some soda water, ginger ale, ice cream and cake in Ashton, and the improvised feast was held in the boathouse, which was strung with lanters. Several of the students made speeches, other sang, and Songbird was called on to recite an original poem, a request that pleased him greatly.
"Say, boys, Brill is a great place after all!" re marked Dick, when he and his brothers were retiring for the night. "At first I thought I shouldn't like it quite as well as dear old Putnam Hall, but I am gradually changing my mind."
"This place grows on one," returned Tom. "I suppose by the time we finish up here we'll hate to leave, just as we hated to leave old Putnam."
"Well, we won't be college boys so very long," remarked Sam. "Almost before you know it, we'll be men and out in the world of business."
"And settled down, maybe, with a family of children to support," added Tom, with a grin.
After the strenuous times of the evening before, the Rovers were glad to take it easy on Tuesday, They finished the last of their packing and Tom played a last joke on William Philander Tubbs by placing in the trunk of the fastidious student a pair of old overalls and three old farm