Not a word did Tip say. He did not even raise his eyes to his teacher's face; and that teacher had not the least idea how the boy before him felt. He did not know how Tip's heart was throbbing, nor how he was saying over and over to himself, "Things are different; they're surely different." He did not know how those few words of his, spoken that winter morning, were going to help to make the boy a man. It was that very morning, standing in that room before the blackboard, with his toe on the third crack from the wall, that Tip resolved to have an education. CHAPTER XIII. "The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all." The boys gathered around the stove before school, and talked. The boys,--not all of them, by any means. Only that small, select number who were above, and led all the rest. Tip wandered outside of the circle, feeling very forlorn; he didn't belong anywhere these days. Bob and his friends had very nearly deserted him; there was scarcely any of their fun in which he had time or desire to join, and the other cliques in school had never noticed him; so he stood outside, and wondered what he should do with himself. Howard Minturn wheeled suddenly away from the boys, and called to him,-- "Tip, see here." And Tip went there. "What do you want?" he asked crossly; for some way he felt out of sorts with that company of finely-dressed boys around the stove. "Want you to come over to-night. It's my birthday, you know, and some of the boys are coming to take tea, and spend the evening. Can you come?" Tip's wide-open eyes spoke his astonishment. "What do you want of me?" he asked at last, speaking boldly just what he thought. "Why, I want you to come and help have a nice time," returned Howard, with great kindness, but just a little condescension in his tone. Tip heard it, and his bitterness showed itself a little. "It's a new streak you've got, ain't it?" he said, still speaking crossly. "You've had lots of birthdays, and this is the first one _I've_ heard of." "Oh, well!" said Howard proudly, flushing as he spoke; "if you don't want to come, why"-- Mr. Burrows' hand was laid on Howard's arm. "Don't spoil a good, noble thing, my boy. It is all new to Edward; _urge_ him." Mr. Burrows spoke low, so no one else could hear him, and turned away. At recess Howard sought out Tip. "I honestly hope you'll come to-night, Tip, for you're a good fellow to play games with, and the boys would all like to have you." Tip had quarrelled with his ill-humour, and it had vanished. "I'll come," he said, in a cheery tone; "only I'll look like a big rag-bag by the side of _you_ fellows." "Never mind," said Howard, turning to join the boys, "_you_ come."