It was late now, and I felt that I should like to go to my bedroom and lock myself in.

That, however, would have been selfish; so we sat on defiantly.

At last he started from his chair as some one knocked at the door.

I heard several people talking, and then loud above their voices a younger one.
[Illustration] When I came to myself, the first thing I thought was that they would ask me to hold it.

Then I remembered, with another sinking at the heart, that they might want to call it after me.