"I'll go," said Bert, "and glad of the chance. I can't thank you enough for your kindness and confidence, but I'll do my very best to deserve it."
"I'm sure of that," was the genial response, and, after a few more details of time and place had been settled, Bert took the extended hand of the Dean and left the office, feeling as though he were walking on air.
His first impulse was to hunt up his two chums, Tom and Dick, and tell them of his good fortune. Tom was a fellow classmate, while Dick had had one year more of college life. The bond that united them was no common one, and had been cemented by a number of experiences shared together for several years back. More than once they had faced serious injury or possible death together, in their many scrapes and adventures, and the way they had backed each other up had convinced each that he had in the others comrades staunch and true. During the present year, they had all been members of the baseball team, Tom holding down third base in dashing style and Dick starring at first; and many a time the three had pulled games out of the fire and wrested victory from defeat. In work and fun they were inseparable; and straight to them now Bert went, flushed and elated with the good luck that had befallen him.
"Bully for you, old man," shouted Dick, while Tom grabbed his hand and clapped him on the back; "It's the finest thing that ever happened."
"It sure is," echoed Tom. "Just think of good old Bert among the Chinks. _And_ the tea houses--_and_ the tomtoms--_and_ the bazaars--_and_ the jinrikishas--and all the rest. By the time he gets back, he'll have almond eyes and a pig-tail and be eating his rice with chop sticks."
"Not quite as bad as that, I hope," laughed Bert. "I've no ambition to be anything else than a good American, and probably all I'll see abroad will only make me the more glad to see the Stars and Stripes again when I get back to 'God's country.' But it surely will be some experience."
Now that the first excitement was over, the conversation lagged a little, and a slight sense of constraint fell upon them. All were thinking of the same thing. Tom was the first to voice the common thought.
"Gee, Bert," he said, "how I wish that Dick and I were coming along!"