me too».
All of a sudden they heard the gong sound.
«Oh, it’s about time to go downstairs to dinner».
«Then let’s grab our books and run».
Ted and Jeff took their books and left the room. The library was located one floor up. Students were rushing along the hallway to the dining room from all the directions. That is why the friends found it quite a challenging mission to elbow their way through the crowd.
«Ted!» – Someone called from behind.
Ted looked back and saw his sister – a black-haired girl with a delicate face and big hazel eyes. The two siblings looked very much alike».
«Hi, Lily!»
«Hey, bro! Well, well, well… May I congratulate you?»
«Sure. Look here!»
And Ted showed her his signet-ring.
«Terrific! I will have to study in here for another four years…»
«Time will fly fast. It seems to me that only yesterday I was fourteen years old!»
«Aren’t you going downstairs to the dining room?»
«I definitely am, but first of all I need to get to the library, in order to return the books. Then I will immediately come downstairs».
«Well, see you around then!»
Lily ran downstairs, while Ted and Jeff proceeded further on. They were lucky, as the library was empty. They quickly returned the books and rushed to the dining room. Dinner had not started, so they found two vacant and convenient seats in an unhurried manner.
«We made it on time!» – Jeff gave a sigh of relief.
«Right. I don’t like coming after the second gong».
«Who does? Furthermore, we were given more than enough time to get here in a timely fashion. Wow, our last dinner in school… Who could think of it! Do you remember how back in Grade 1 we got lost and arrived here by the end of the meal?»
«Oh yeah! We thought we would stay hungry. How great was it that Professor Lengood took us to the cafeteria».
There sounded another gong and on the table, in front of each and every pupil there appeared a menu. The friends were hungry, so they got down to studying the list of dishes.
«A vegetable salad, mashed potatoes, chops, orange juice, apple pie and tea, – pronounced Ted and at the same moment all the meals mentioned emerged in front of him on the table».
«Hey, you are a fast chooser!»
«I always take what I prefer. It’s you who is a slowpoke. By the way, I’m also willing to part from Vega».
«You will. So… What should I choose? Well, an egg-plant salad, fresh vegetables, noodles with shrimps, salmon, orange juice, chocolate mousse and a cup of coffee».
All the enumerated items appeared on the table in front of Jeff at once.
«You know how to lead a good life!» – said Ted with a smile, sizing up Jeff’s order.
«Why didn’t you order such dinner for yourself?»
«I prefer what I’ve ordered. Bon appetite!»
«The same to you».
Before they hit the road home the young men went to the school stable.
«Did you come to say good-bye?» – The stable caretaker asked them.
«Yes, Mr. Weber».
«Come on in».
«Thank you».
«Ted, go alone. I’m going to wait for you here».
«Fine».
Jeffrey suffered from hippophobia – fear of horses. He had tried to get treatment for it, to overcome his fears, but to no avail. Even the magic medicine appeared to be powerless.
The school stable looked extraordinary: huge, spacious, and accommodated about ten horses. The most unusual thing about the stable was that all of its inhabitants were winged, and that all of them actively participated in regular school tournaments of magician knights. Ted came close to a black horse.
«My dearest Vega! It is high time for us to part…»
He petted her on her neck. The horse tilted her head.
«I promise that I will come to see you. After all, only due to you did I win the school championship».
«Did you say good-bye to her?» – asked Jeffrey, as soon as Ted left the stable.
«Yes, but I am going to come and see her again. I will do it for sure».
Ted and Jeff went in the direction of their school. A young boy, their fellow-student ran out their way.
«Ted, Jeff, where have you been?»
«I was saying good-bye to Vega. What’s wrong, Leo?»
«Everyone must be in the central yard with bags. The Principal will say his parting words to us. He will also explain to us how to use the signet-ring».
«Oh, I completely forgot! Thought everyone could go home all by themselves after dinner. Let’s hurry up!»
The graduates headed hastily to their room to pick up their things and then go to the yard. The majority of students from the three graduate forms had already gone down there. Everyone was holding their bags. Ted was desperately trying to see Alice.
«Don’t you worry, Ted! Remember? I told you – at my party».
«What if nothing will come out of it?»
«I always get it right! Wait for my phone-call. I’ll call you and tell you the exact time».
«All right. And I will let you know, as soon as I have moved to London».
«Certainly! Just fancy! At last we’ll live in the same city! Watch out, London!»
Ted laughed.
«I will be pressed for time, I’m afraid».
«But you won’t work all day long, will you? There will be weekends, evenings, after all…»
«Yes, right you are. Hush, here comes the Principal».
The school Principal Mr. Sunrace stood facing the line of his former students. He smiled and started his speech.
«Here you are leaving our school. No, please, don’t worry – I won’t detain you. All I wanted to say has already been said back
