Putnam, a pleasant smile on his face. He shook hands all around.
"Did you have a nice trip?"

"Splendid, sir," said Tom. "Oh, how do you do, Mr. Strong?" and
he ran to meet the head teacher. He could not help but think of
how different things were now to when he had first arrived at
Putnam Hall the year previous, and Josiah Crabtree had locked him
up in the guardroom for exploding a big firecracker in honor of
the occasion.

"Well, Thomas, I hope you have left all your pranks behind,"
observed George Strong. "How about it?" And his eyes twinkled.

"Oh, I'm going in for study this session," answered Tom demurely.
And then he winked at Larry on the sly. But his words did not
deceive George Strong, who understood only too well Tom's
propensity for mischief.

It was the first day of the term, but as the cadets kept on
arriving with every train and boat, no lessons were given out,
and the boys were allowed to do pretty much as they pleased.
They visited every nook and corner, including the classrooms, the
dormitories, the stables, and the gymnasium and boathouse, and
nearly bothered the life out of Peleg Snuggers, Mrs. Green, the
housekeeper, and Alexander Pop, the colored waiter of the mess
hall.

"Hullo, Aleck!" cried Tom rushing up and grabbing the colored man
by the hand. "How are you -- pretty well? I'm first-rate,
never was better in my life!" And he gave the hand a hard