The boys were literally overcome by this challenge, but Lyman succeeded in saying,
"We'll take you up on that some day, Brown."
"It can't be too soon to suit me," laughed Gay. Then he threw one arm across Lyman's shoulders, the other across Will's and added, persuasively, "Promise you will come to-morrow."
"You see," said Will, "we don't belong to that set and when they meet us at church affairs they generally treat us as if we were heathen. They are not like you, Brown."
"I'd like to see anybody treat my guests that way!" said Gay, defiantly. "If you come I guess you'll see that my party isn't a church show."
When Gay went into the house the minister was there; his nearest approach to a week-day occupation was visiting Miss Celia. "Who were those boys, Miss May?" he asked, with a desire to be agreeable.
"Hazelnook boys; splendid fellows. Don't you know them?"
"I think not, though their parents may be my parishioners. All boys of that age look alike."
"Aunt Celia," said Gay that evening, when they were alone, "I don't think much of that minister."