He colored a little, but did not say his mother had set her heart on his being a minister because his Uncle Robert, who died, had intended to enter that profession. Ben said the boys, John and the doctor, wanted him to go, but he wished he could be a newspaper man like Nora's father. His mother thought it a kind of shiftless business. They talked over their likes and dislikes in boy fashion, and Charles enjoyed it immensely. He thought it would be just royal to have a big brother who was a doctor, and a little sister like Hanny. Meanwhile the little women had been very much engrossed with their children and their tea party, and the prospect of a grandmother and an old soldier coming to visit them. "And Mr. Brown is so heedless," said Mrs. Brown. "He ought to be here to go to the store, but he's off talking and men are _so_ absent-minded." Elsie said she'd go to the store, which was the closet in the basement. Then the company came, and the old soldier limped dreadfully. Mrs. Brown scolded her husband a little, and then excused him, and everybody was seated in a row. There was a plate of thin bread-and-butter, some smoked beef cut in small pieces, some sugar crackers, quite a fad of that day, and a real cake. Mrs. Dean had given them half of a newly baked one. It was quite a tea. Mr. Dean came home in the midst of it and sympathized warmly with the hero of 1776, and was extremely courteous to grandmother. The little girls cleared away the dishes, put their children to bed, had a fine swing and played "Puss in the Corner" with two sets. Mr. Reed came in for Charles. "I wish you'd come over and see my boy," he said to Ben. "He's a rather lonely chap, having no brothers or sisters." "Let him come over to our house," returned Ben cordially. "We have a good supply." Then everybody dispersed. They'd had such a good time, and were eager in their acknowledgments. "Why, I quite like John Robert Charles," said Ben. "He's a real smart fellow." "If you would please not call him all those names," entreated Hanny. "He doesn't like them." "Well, I should say not. I'd like just plain Bob. He wants the girlishness shaken out of him." "But he's so nice. And if he should come over please don't let Jim plague him." "Oh, I'll look out." It was a week before Ben could put on his shoe, and of course it was not wisdom for him to go to school. He went down-town in the wagon and did some writing and accounts for Steve, and read a great deal. Mr. Reed and Charles sauntered over one evening. Hanny was sitting out on the stoop with "father and the boys," and gave Charles a soft, welcoming smile. Margaret was playing twilight tunes in a gentle manner, and the dulcet measures fascinated the boy, who could hardly pay attention to what Ben was saying. "Do you want to go in and hear her?" Hanny asked, with quick insight as she caught his divided attention. "Oh, if I could!" eagerly.