and you too, Dean." Mamma lifted her dusty little black hat from a very
flushed forehead. "These boys look cool in their flannel shirts and you
so hot in your coats. And see what a nice fine place and a nice clock
and a--"

"Hold, Mamma! Hold! You needn't talk every minute," interrupted Papa
Wolf. "I promised to say nothing until we all have eaten. So now, enjoy
your breakfast."

But Papa and probably the Dean were the only persons who really enjoyed
the meal. Elsa was plainly rattled and Dick whose worn face recently had
looked much less haggard had settled again into lines of suffering.
Except in looking after the guests' comfort, he had nothing to say.
Charley and Roger were apprehensive as to the outcome of what was
plainly to be a family row. Ernest, who talked a great deal, seemed
excited and uneasy.

When the coffee pot had been emptied and pipes and cigars lighted, Dean
Erskine rose. He was small and thin and his Van Dyke beard was nearly
white but he still gave the impression of tremendous nervous energy.

"Now, I'm ready for the Plant, Roger," he said energetically.

"No! No! The Plant can wait!" protested Papa. "You know all about why we
have come, Dean, and I want you to stay and lend your good sense to the
interview."

"But my dear Wolf, it will be very unpleasant for me," exclaimed the
Dean.

"And for me!" added Roger.

"For you, Roger! Why you're the cause of all our troubles and the Dean
has backed you in all! Come now, don't be a coward. See it through! I
must take my two children back with me. That is settled."

"Is that what brought you down here, Papa?" inquired Elsa.

"Ernest's letter brought me down here. It's the only letter he has
written me since he left my roof. But it was most important."

"You see, it was this way," Ernest cleared his throat, nervously, but
his blue eyes were steady. "You told me not to communicate with you, but
I've written regularly to Mother. So, of course, it amounted to the same
thing. Naturally, I've tried not to write you about our worries. But
finally, I made up my mind, Papa, that you needed to learn one or two
things that I had learned down here. I knew there was no use in my
asking you to come, so I merely wrote you of Elsa's engagement."

Ernest turned to his sister and Dick, who sat side by side on the
living-room cot.

"I'm not going to apologize to you two. Mamma and Papa had to know
sometime or other. And I wanted Papa down here."

"You shou