Seated in the easy-chair was his father.  Instantly Will’s weariness was forgotten and with a shout he rushed upon his visitor throwing his arm about his neck and laughing in a way that may have served to keep down a stronger emotion.

“How long have you been here?” he demanded.  “Where’s mother?  When did you come?  How’s everybody at home?  Anything wrong?  My, but I’m glad to see you!  How long are you going to stay?”

The questions and exclamations fell from Will’s lips in such confusion that it was impossible to reply and even Foster who was in the room joined in the laugh with which his room-mate’s excitement was greeted.

“Not too fast, Will,” laughed his father.  “I had to come near here on business and I thought it would be a good thing to stop at Winthrop over night and have a little visit with my boy.  I didn’t know that I should be able to have one,” he added smilingly, “for he wasn’t anywhere to be found.”

“I’m sorry!  I wish I’d known it.  I’ve been out for a walk with Mott.  And we certainly have had one!” he added as he recounted some of the experiences of the afternoon.

His recital was greeted with laughter and even Will himself could enjoy it now that it was all past and he was once more safe in his room.  For an hour Mr. Phelps remained in the room listening to the tales of the boys of their new life in the college, laughing as he heard of their pranks, and deeply interested in all they had to relate.  At last when he arose to go to his room in the village hotel, he promised to come and attend church in the morning with the boys and then explained that he would have two hours to spend with Will on the morning following as his train did not leave until half-past ten.

“But I have a recitation the first hour,” said Will blankly.  “I’ll ‘cut’ it, though, for it isn’t every day one has his daddy with him, and I wouldn’t lose a minute of your time here, pop, for ten hours with old Splinter.  I have Greek, you know, the first hour in the morning.  Oh, I’ve got ‘cuts’ to burn,” he added hastily as an unspoken protest appeared in the expression on his father’s face.  “You needn’t worry about that.”

“I don’t want you to lose any recitation because I am here,” said his father quietly.  “I sha’n’t want to come again if my coming interferes with your work, and as it is I have serious doubts—­”

“All right, pop,” replied Will patting his father affectionately on the shoulder.  “I’ll go to Splinter’s class, though I know he’ll ‘go for’ me too.  I won’t do a thing that’ll ever keep you from showing up here in Winthrop again.”