He seemed very important, indeed.
"Glad to see you, boys," he said, holding out his hand, which Thad actually seized eagerly; although just a few hours before he had been telling himself how delighted he would be to form one of a party of determined fellows who might visit the Hosmer cottage at midnight, and warn the ex-hobo to clear out of the neighborhood on penalty of having something decidedly unpleasant happen to him if he refused.
But then that was before Thad had heard the wonderful story which Hugh unleashed, and fired at him as he sat there gaping and listening and slyly pinching his thigh so as to learn whether he were awake, or asleep and dreaming.
"Looks like you folks might be going on a picnic somewhere ?" remarked Hugh, taking his cue from something Brother Lu had said to him before.
"Just what we expect to do, lads," hastily replied the other, with a wink, when he believed neither of the Hosmers was looking at him.
"You see, this happens to be Tilly's birthday.

She hasn't had a real one for ever so long, and Andrew and me, why, we've fixed it that she should take a holiday from her drudgery and we'd all go off for a little lark.

Now, perhaps you two would like to keep us company.

How about that, boys?
You've been pretty kind to my sister, and we all feel that you're our good friends.

What do you say about tagging along?
In my walks about this section of country, I've chanced to make a few acquaintances.