CHAPTER VIII.
WHEN Mr.Howland threatened his son with exclusion from the house, if he were away at ten o'clock, Andrew's feelings were in a state of reaction against his father, and he said to himself, in a rebellious spirit-- "We'll see if you will." But after growing cooler, he came into a better state of mind; and, in view of consequences such as he knew would be visited on him, decided not to come in contact with his father in this particular--at least not for the present.

If turned from his own door at midnight, where was he to find shelter?
This question he could not answer to his own satisfaction.
After supper, on the evening succeeding that in which he had visited the theatre, Andrew left home and went to an engine-house in the neighborhood, where he joined about a dozen lads and young men as idle and aimless as himself.

With these he spent an hour or two, entering into their vicious and debasing conversation, when a person with whom he had gone to see the play on the previous evening, proposed to him to go around to the theatre again.

Andrew objected that he had no money, but the other said that he could easily procure checks, and volunteered to ask for them.

Still Andrew, whose thoughts were on the passing time, refused to go.