At the first corner every one but the Baker children and Sunny Boy went
a different way. They could walk home together, and that was why Mrs.
Horton had said that Harriet need not come for Sunny Boy.

As they were passing a house some one tapped on the window. Nelson and
Ruth's aunt lived there, and she had been waiting to see them pass.

"Your mother telephoned me you went to Oliver Dunlap's party and would
go by our house on your way home," said Aunt Edith, coming out on the
steps, with a coat thrown over her shoulders. "I asked her to let you
stay and visit us till eight o'clock this evening. Then I'll take you
home. The cat has a basketful of new kittens for you to play with,
Ruth."

"May Sunny Boy stay, too, please?" asked Ruth.

"Yes, of course," said Mrs. Tyler, who was Ruth's Aunt Edith. "Of
course, he may. I will telephone to his mother so that she will not
worry about him."

"No, thank you. I have to go home," Sunny Boy said shyly. "I said I
would come right home. And I want to tell Mother about the party."

"All right, dear, just as you please," said Mrs. Tyler kindly. "You
are sure, Sunny Boy, you don't mind going the rest of the way alone?"

Sunny Boy replied that he did not mind, and Nelson and Ruth went into
the house, while he trudged off down the street by himself. Presently
he chuckled.