nsity.

"Oh, by the way," exclaimed Armstrong, "of course you'll take tea with
us and spend the evening. I wish I could offer to sleep you here; but
the fact is, Mrs. Armstrong's sister is with us for a few days, and
the parents of one of my boys, who is sick, are also staying here; so
that my guest chambers are full."

"Don't mention it," I said. "I couldn't stay over night. I've got to
be in New York in the morning, and must take the nine-o'clock train.
But I'll stay to supper and much obliged, if you are sure I sha'n't
take up too much of your time."

"Not the least--not the least. This is a half holiday, and nothing in
particular to do." He bustled to the door and called out loudly,
"Mother! Mother!"

There was no response.

"Nelly," he commanded, "run and find your mamma, and tell her that Mr.
Polisson--from New Orleans--an old classmate of papa's, will be here
to tea. That's a good girl. Polisson, put on your hat and let's go
round the place. I want to show you what an establishment I've got
here."

We accordingly made the tour of the premises, Armstrong doing the
cicerone impressively, and every now and then urging me with emphatic
hospitality to come and spend a week--a fortnight--longer, if I chose,
during the summer vacation.

"Bring Mrs. Polisson and the kids. Bring 'em all," he said. "It will
do them good; the air here is fine; eleven hundred feet above the sea.
No malaria--no typhoid. I laid out four hundred dollars last year on
sewerage."

It being a half holiday, most of the big boys had gone to a pond in
the neighborhood for a swim, under the conduct of the classical
master,--a Yale graduate, Armstrong explained, who had stood fourth
in his class, "and a very able fellow,--very able."

But while we sat at tea in Armstrong's family dining-room, which
adjoined the school commons, we were made aware of the return of the
swimming party by the constant shuffle and tramp of feet through the
hall and the noise of feeding in the next room. At our table were
present Mrs. Armstrong, her sister (who had a frightened air when
addressed and conversed in monosyllables), the parents of the sick
pupil, and Armstrong's two eldest children. I surmised that the
younger children had been in the habit of sharing in the social meal,
and had been crowded out on this occasion by the number of guests; for
I heard them _fremunt_ing _in carcere_ behind a door through which
the waitress passed out and in, bringing plat