"You're a mean brother," said Elsie in pretended anger, lifting her
hand as if to slap him, "and if it wasn't that I will likely soon lose
you, I would box your ears soundly."

They talked awhile, and then Dick attended to the errand that had
brought him there and went home.

"I guess we will have company when we go to war, Tom" he said to his
brother.

"Is that so?" with an interested ear. "Who?"

"Ben Foster."

"You don't mean it, Dick?"

"Yes. He just told me he intends to accompany us."

"But-his father's a Tory!"

"Yes, but he is a reasonable man, and Ben says that he will not
object."

"Well, that will be fine. I'd like to have Ben along."

"So would I. And I guess he'll go."

"I hope he will. He's such a lively, jolly fellow that he is good
company, and will help keep us from getting homesick."