neral. "So
I borrowed her patterns. Listening to Adele talk, I realized, Georges,
that you and Willy and I have to learn how to be poor."

It was at this point that Charlotte brought forth from the chair
behind her a voluminous broadcloth cape, such as men then wore for
outer wrap, and spread it on the mahogany centre-table.

"It's perfectly good, if you did discard it, and I'm going to cut it
into something for Willy; I didn't tell Adele I never had tried, she
is so capable, but I borrowed her patterns." And Charlotte brought
forth a paper roll.

The Captain, in the arm-chair, sat and watched. Alexina, from his
knee, where he had a way of lifting her, watched too. Willy, from a
perch on the arm of the sofa, offered suggestions.

This was early in the afternoon. At six o'clock the Captain, lighting
another of an uninterrupted series of cigars, was still watching
silently. On the sofa sat Charlotte, in tears. On the table, tailor
fashion, sat King William, sorting patterns, while Nelly, who had come
for Alexina, stood by and directed.

"How does he know?" Mrs. Leroy, watching her son a little anxiously,
asked the Captain. "I wouldn't like him to develop such a bent. He
doesn't get it from you--or from me."

"I look at my legs," said William, "and then I build it that way."

Another afternoon the Captain looked up from his smoking and spoke to
Charlotte. The children were on the floor turning the pages of a
picture paper.

"We have succeeded in securing the loan on a mortgage on the boat.
Cowan arranged it through his bank. It was at a higher rate than we
had agreed on, but we'd lost all the time we could spare. We'll push
ahead now and have things finished by spring."

That night, over at the Blairs', as Alexina climbed into her place at
the table Austen was speaking to Harriet. "You remember I told you I
was looking for an investment of the proceeds of those bonds of
Alexina's which matured the other day? This morning I took a mortgage
on a boat Cowan is building at his yard."

Alexina heard her name, but did not understand.

CHAPTER SEVEN

There came a day the following spring when Alexina, seeking her aunt,
wept.

Harriet gazed at her dismayed, at a loss. Heretofore Alexina had taken
her tears to Nelly or had kept them to herself.

"They are going away," she said, "King William and them; going in the
boat."

This, as a matter to cry about, was a mystery to Harriet. "Going
where?" she asked