"Esther!" Mr. Howland stept in front of his wife, and, looking
sternly in her face, added, "Havn't I just said that there was no
entrance for him, to-night?"

"But it's early! It's only a few minutes after ten," eagerly replied
the mother.

"It's past ten o'clock, and that settles the matter," returned Mr.
Howland.

"But where will he go?" asked the mother.

"To the Station House, if he can find no better place. To-morrow he
will most probably have a higher appreciation of the comforts of
home."

As Mr. Howland closed this sentence, the bell rung again.

"Andrew! I must let him in!" exclaimed the mother, in a tone of
anguish, and she made a movement to pass her husband. But a strong
hand was instantly laid upon her arm, and a stern voice said--

"Don't interfere with me in this matter, Esther! As the father of
that wayward boy, it is my duty to control him."

"This is driving him from his home; not controlling him!"

"I'll bear the responsibility of what I am doing," said Mr. Howland,
impatiently. "Why will you interfere with me in this way?"