Steve sarcastically wondered if the school gave them beds to sleep in! The situation was further complicated by the eleventh-hour discovery on the part of Mrs.Hall that Tom's clothing, while quite good enough for Tannersville, would never do for Brimfield Academy, and poor Tom had to be fitted to new suits of clothes and shoes and hats and various other articles of apparel.
They were to leave early Monday morning, for in that way they could reach Brimfield before dark.

Both boys, who had set their hearts on a night in a sleeping-car, with all its exciting possibilities, begged to be allowed to make their start Monday evening, which would allow them to arrive at school Tuesday forenoon in plenty of time.

But neither Steve's father nor Tom's would listen to the suggestion.
"Then I'll get there a whole day before school opens," grumbled Tom, "and have to stay there all alone Monday night." "It won't hurt you a bit," replied Mr.Hall.

"And the catalogue says that students will be received any time after Monday noon.

I'm not going to have you two reckless youngsters travelling around the country together at night." Tom, recognising the inevitable, said no more.
There was a somewhat awkward ten minutes at the station, for both Mr.
Edwards and Mr.Hall, the latter accompanied by his wife, went down to see the boys off.