When he returned to the parlor be found that Farley had conducted his parents and friends to one of the parlor windows, from which, behind drawn blinds, they had watched the scene and heard the uproar without making themselves visible.
At noon the hotel dining room was overrun with midshipmen and their friends, all awaiting the afternoon train.
But at last the time came to leave Annapolis behind in earnest.
Extra cars had been put on to handle the throng, for the "train," for the first few miles of the way, usually consists of but one combination trolley car.
"You're leaving the good old place behind," murmured Belle, as the car started.
"Never a graduate yet but was glad to leave Annapolis behind," replied Dave.
"It seems to me that you ought not to speak of the Naval Academy in that tone." "You'd understand, Belle, if you had been through every bit of the four-year grind, always with the uncertainty ahead of you of being able to get through and grad." "Perhaps the strict discipline irked you, too," Miss Meade hinted.
"The strict discipline will be part of the whole professional life ahead of me," Darrin responded.

"As to discipline, it's even harder on some ships, where the old man is a stickler for having things done just so." "The old man ?" questioned Belle.
"The 'old man' is the captain of a warship." "It doesn't sound respectful." "Yet it has always been the name given to the ship's captain, and I don't suppose it will be changed in another hundred years.
How does it feel, Danny boy, going away for good ?" "Am I really going away for good ?" grinned Dalzell.

"I thought it was only a dream." "Well, here's Odenton.

You'll be in Baltimore after another little while, and then it will all seem more real." "Nothing but Gridley will look real to me on this trip," muttered Dan.

"Really, I'm growing sick for a good look at the old home town." "I wish you could put in the whole summer at home, Dan," sighed his mother.