"No, ma'am," answered Howard, with energy; "we want you and father both. I guess I want you to my party, whoever else I have."
Tip watched the bright light on Howard's face with surprise. How much he seemed to love his mother, and how much she loved him! how queer it was! The supper was a great success; the boys forgot their excitement and ill-humour, and enjoyed everything.
It was almost nine o'clock, the hour when it was generally understood that the party was to break up. The boys had been very merry all the evening; the discussion which had taken place just before tea seemed to have been forgotten, save by Ellis, who, genial and hearty enough with the others, was cold and haughty to Tip. Still, they kept apart, and the fun had gone on famously. There was a sudden lull in the uproar when Mr. Minturn opened the door.
"Are the walls left?" he asked, coming forward.
"The walls?" said Ellis inquiringly; "why, sir, did you expect to miss them?"
"Well, I had some such fears, but I see they're all right. What are you up to?"
"Ellis was telling a story, that's what we were laughing at when you came in," said Howard. "Go on, El—never mind father, he likes to hear stories."
"No," said Ellis, blushing crimson; "I think I'll be excused."
"Go ahead," said Mr. Minturn; "I'm very fond of stories."
"I was only telling, sir, how Joe Barnes talked to his father when I was down there this morning."