“But I may hope to be with you all again to-morrow and the next day, when the graduating exercises are over, may I not, papa?” asked Max.
“I think so; provided you keep out of scrapes,” his father replied, laying a hand affectionately on the lad’s shoulder as he spoke, for Max was now close to his side. “And one evening or the other—both if you like—you may bring some of your mates with you, and perhaps Cousin Ronald and you yourself may be able to entertain them with some exertion of your ventriloquial powers.”
“Oh, thank you, papa,” said Max delightedly; “nothing could be better. Cousin Ronald will, I dare say, make great sport for them, and perhaps I could do a little myself. But whom shall I invite? I am very sure any of them would be delighted to come.”
“I leave the selection to you, my son,” replied the captain. “Choose any whom you think the right sort of company for yourself and us and likely to enjoy being here.”
“Thank you, sir. How many shall I ask?”
“Well, my boy, as we are not expecting to keep them over night, six or eight would not, I think, be more than we can accommodate comfortably.”
“And that will be as many as I care to ask at one time,” Max said with satisfaction. “Hunt will be glad to come, I know, and he’s a nice fellow.”
“You’ll want to ask those who are anxious to make Cousin Ronald’s acquaintance, I presume,” said his father.
“Yes, sir, some of them; if I asked all it would include my whole class besides a good many belonging to the others,” laughed Max.
“Very well,” said his father, “you know about how many we can accommodate, and I leave the selection to you, feeling quite sure that my boy will prefer those of good character for his intimate associates.”