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.