"I am very glad to see you, Joel." Mrs. Sterling beamed at him from her
sofa, feeling quite sure of the success of the first company she had given
to the boys, now that Joel Pepper had come.
Joel gave her a bright little nod; then, remembering himself, he went over
to her sofa and stuck out his little brown hand.
"I'm glad I've come," he said, bobbing at the same time in great
satisfaction to the boys.
"Where is your friend, Joel?" asked Mrs. Sterling, in disappointment. "I
surely thought you would bring him."
Joel glanced around in dismay, then pranced out into the hall. A scuffling
noise struck upon his ear, and leaning over the banister, he saw David and
Jack apparently hanging on to each other and whirling around in the hall
below. He was down over the stairs in a flash.
"He says he must go home," said David, still holding fast to the edge of
Jack's jacket, and looking up with a very pink face.
Jack looked thoroughly ashamed, but he still cast wild eyes at the big
front door, as Joel considering whatever was to be done at all, should be
done quickly, launched him upstairs, and before he had a moment to breathe
freely, pushed him into the beautiful sitting-room above with a, "Here he
is."
The room swam all around before Jack, as he went up to the sofa-edge, and
Mrs. Sterling's soft, white hand took his hot, nervous one.
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