Randolph lost no time in going home to report what he had seen. Both his father and mother were surprised to see him back so soon.

“I am glad you came home early,” said his mother.

“Did you see anything of Gilbert while you were out?” asked his father.

“Do you suppose, Mr. Briggs, that Randolph is going to follow your beggarly ward?” demanded Mrs. Briggs, sharply.

“He might have met him,” said her husband, in an apologetic tone.

“I did meet him,” said Randolph, in so significant a tone that both his father and mother looked at him for an explanation.

“Where do you think I saw him?” continued Randolph.

69“In some low place,” suggested his mother.

“Not at all. He was eating an ice-cream at Delmonico’s.”

“Pretty well for a penniless boy!” said Mrs. Briggs. “I suppose he expects us to supply him with money to pay for his extravagant outlays.”

“Oh, he didn’t pay for it himself. He got Mr. Vivian to treat him.”

“Mr. Vivian!”

“Yes: he had picked up Mr. Vivian and Laura somewhere, and probably suggested going in to take an ice-cream.”

“No doubt Mr. Vivian invited him,” said Mr. Briggs, who did not allow dislike to run away with his common-sense.

“He is certainly the most forward and impudent boy I ever met,” exclaimed Mrs. Briggs, whose annoyance arose largely from Gilbert’s succeeding better with the Vivians than her own son.

“Really, my dear,” expostulated her husband, “I am sure you do the boy injustice.”

“Don’t call me ‘my dear,’” said Mrs. Briggs, 70scornfully. “I can’t see what has got into you. You certainly must be wilfully blind if you don’t see through the artfulness of that boy.”

“What has he done?”

“He has wormed himself into the intimacy of Mr. Vivian; that is what he has done.”

“Why shouldn’t he? If Mr. Vivian is inclined to befriend him, it will be a saving to me.”

“It won’t be for long. Mr. Vivian will find him out, and cast him off.”

“I don’t know that there is anything in particular to find out. He seems to me as good as the average of boys.”

“Well, Mr. Briggs, I can only say that you seem infatuated about him. I beg to say that I am not.”

“That is apparent,” said her husband, smiling.

“Moreover,” added his wife, provoked, “I wish to tell you that it is disagreeable to me to have him in the house. So the sooner you can find a boarding-house for him the better.”

“Well, I will, if you insist upon it.”

“I do insist upon it.”

71“Then I will try in a day or two to find him a home.”

“Mark my words, Mr. Briggs: you will find, sooner or later, that my prejudice against him is not so foolish as you imagine. That boy will turn out badly.”

“I hope not.”

“It’s all very well hoping; but you’ll see.”

Randolph now got up to go.

“Where are you going, Randolph?” asked his mother.

“I am going out a while; I can’t say where.”

“Why can’t you be satisfied to stay at home?”

“Oh, it’s so stupid staying at home,” said Randolph. “I want to go where there’s something going on.”

“It isn’t a very good plan for a boy of your age to spend his evenings about the street,” said Mr. Briggs.

“Why shouldn’t he go out?” said Mrs. Briggs, in the spirit of opposition. “You haven’t anything to say about your favorite being out.”

72“The city is new to him. If he went out every evening like Randolph, I should think it a bad plan.”

“I suppose you would find some excuse for him.”

“Really,” said Mr. Briggs, “I shall be quite as anxious to get him out of the house as you, if you keep up such an incessant attack.”

“If you are going to talk to me in this style, I will retire,” said Mrs. Briggs, stiffly.

Suiting the action to the word, she rose and left the room. Her husband made no opposition. Indeed, as her temper was, he felt her withdrawal a relief. He settled himself down to the comfortable reading of............