Sunny Boy obediently "hung on to" Tim, keeping so close beside him that several times it was inconvenient, as when people tried to get past them at the door of the car. The train was crowded, and the two boys had to stand.
"We change here," warned Tim, when they reached the express station. "Look sharp!"
Sunny Boy breathed a sigh of relief when they were safely on the express train; he didn't trust himself to change cars.
"You look kind of beat out," commented Tim, eyeing his charge critically when they were near their last stop. "I s'pose you've done more going to-day than you're used to. Never mind, we're most there now.
"I wonder," Tim said, when they reached the entrance of the McAlpin Hotel a few minutes later, "will I have to go in and let that bunch look me over? I didn't bring my dress suit, and I ain't exactly crazy about giving 'em something to stare at."
Sunny Boy's little heart understood. Tim was ashamed of his shabby clothes, and he knew that the bright lights would make his worn coat reveal every spot and hole.
"Mother won't care," Sunny assured him. "Come on, Tim, I'll show you."
So it was Sunny Boy who pulled Tim into the foyer, and even then Tim would have backed out if, almost the instant they entered the door, some one had not come running to them.
"Oh, my baby!" cried Sunny Boy's mother, gathering him up and hugging him.
Tim felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up to find Sunny Boy's father smiling down at him.