"He called to see father; but he didn't see him," explained Phil, as though reading his thoughts and willing to satisfy his curiosity. "Charlie's getting up a new trolley line. He wanted me to go in with him." "Gave you a chance to escape from your farm? I should think you would be tempted." "I didn't feel the temptation particularly," answered Fred; "but it was kind of him to come and see me." "Well, there is that," Phil replied indifferently. "You seemed to get on first-rate with Uncle Amy. Was that the first time you ever talked to him?" "Yes. But I remember that once when I was a little chap he met me in the street over by the college--I remember the exact spot--and gave me a penny. I seem to remember that he used to do that with children quite unexpectedly. I imagine that he does a lot of nice things for people." "Uncle Amy," said Phil deliberately, "is the second grandest man now present on earth. Daddy is the first." "I don't know your father, except as I see him in the street." "I suppose not," said Phil. These commonplaces were leading nowhere, and they were becoming the least bit trying. "My aunts have decided that the Montgomerys and the Holtons might as well bury the hatchet. They're going to ask your Uncle William to my party. They can't stand not knowing your aunt." He did not at once grasp this. He was only dimly conscious of Montgomery social values and the prominence of his Uncle William's wife had not seemed to him a matter of importance. His acquaintance with that lady was indeed slight, and he did not see at once wherein Phil's aunts had anything to gain by cultivating her society, nor did Phil enlighten him. This turn of the talk embarrassed him by its suggestion of the escapade in which Phil's mother and his uncle had figured. Phil was not apparently troubled by this. "They didn't invite you to my party, did they?" He did not know exactly whom she meant by "they"; and he had not heard of Phil's party. "No," he answered, smiling; "they probably never heard of me." "Well, you will be invited. Your brother and sister are coming. Your brother Charlie told me so. He's going to give up a trip to New York just to be there."