As he spoke, the bell rung.
"There he is, now!" exclaimed the mother, starting toward the door.
"Esther!" Mr. Howland stept in front of his wife, and, looking sternly in her face, added, "Haven't I just said that there was no entrance for him, to-night?"
"But it's early! It's only a few minutes after ten," eagerly replied the mother.
"It's past ten o'clock, and that settles the matter," returned Mr. Howland.
"But where will he go?" asked the mother.
"To the Station House, if he can find no better place. To-morrow he will most probably have a higher appreciation of the comforts of home."
As Mr. Howland closed this sentence, the bell rung again.
"Andrew! I must let him in!" exclaimed the mother, in a tone of anguish, and she made a movement to pass her husband. But a strong hand was instantly laid upon her arm, and a stern voice said—
"Don't interfere with me in this matter, Esther! As the father of that wayward boy, it is my duty to control him."