For a time the man by the hall door watched in silent amazement; then with a low ejaculation he softly let himself out of the house, and hurried back to the hotel. "Well?" greeted half a dozen voices; and one added: "What did they say?" Frank shook his head and dropped into the nearest chair. "I--I didn't tell them," he stammered faintly. "Didn't tell them!" exclaimed Ella. "Why, Frank, what was the trouble? Were they sick? Surely, they were not upset by just seeing you!" Frank's eyes twinkled "Well, hardly!" he retorted. "They--they're having a party." "A party!" shrieked half a dozen voices. "Yes; and a tree, and a dance, and ice cream, and pink peppermints," Frank enumerated in one breath. There was a chorus of expostulation; then Ella's voice rose dominant. "Frank Bertram, what on earth do you mean?" she demanded. "Who is having all this?" "Father and Mother," returned Frank, his lips twitching a little. "And they've got old Uncle Tim and half a dozen others for guests." "But, Frank, how can they be having all this?" faltered Ella. "Why, Father's not so very far from eighty years old, and--Mabel, Mabel, my dear!" she broke off in sudden reproof to her young niece, who had come under her glance at that moment. "Those are presents for Grandpa and Grandma. I wouldn't play with them." Mabel hesitated, plainly rebellious. In each hand was a gray worsted bed-slipper; atop of her yellow curls was a brown neckerchief, cap fashion. There were exclamations from two men, and Ned came forward hurriedly. "Oh, I say, Ella," he remonstrated, "you didn't get those for presents, did you?" "But I did. Why not?" questioned Ella. "Why, I got slippers, you see. I never can think of anything else. Besides, they're always good, anyhow. But I should think _you_, a _woman_, could think of something--" "Never mind," interrupted Ella airily. "Mother's a dear, and she won't care if she does get two pairs." "But she won't want three pairs," groaned Frank; "and I got slippers too!" There was a moment of dismayed silence, then everybody laughed. Ella was the first to speak. "It's too bad, of course, but never mind. Mother'll see the joke of it just as we do. You know she never seems to care what we give her. Old people don't have many wants, I fancy." Frank stirred suddenly and walked the length of the room. Then he wheeled about. "Do you know," he said, a little unsteadily, "I believe that's a mistake?" "A mistake? What's a mistake?"