ou'll take as bein' said man
to man," he began, with the impressive air of one who had a secret of
great moment to impart; and Yancy hastened to assure him that whatever
passed between them, his lips should be sealed. "It ain't really that,
but I don't wish to appear proud afo' no man's, eyes. First, I want to
ask you, did you ever hear tell of titles?"

Polly and the children hung breathlessly on Mr. Yancy's reply.

"I certainly have," he rejoined promptly. "Back in No'th Carolina we
went by the chimneys."

"Chimneys? What's chimneys got to do with titles, Mr. Yancy?" asked
Polly, while her husband appeared profoundly mystified.

"A whole lot, ma'am. If a man had two chimneys to his house we always
called him Colonel, if there was four chimneys we called him General."

"La!" cried Polly, smiling and showing a number of new dimples. "Dick
don't mean militia titles, Mr. Yancy."

"Them's the only ones I know anything of," confessed Yancy.

"Ever hear tell of lords?" inquired Chills and Fever, tilting his head
on one side.

"No." And Yancy was quick to notice the look of disappointment on the
faces of his new friends. He felt that for some reason, which was by no
means clear to him, he had lost caste.

"Are you ever heard of royalty?" and Cavendish fixed the invalid's
wandering glance.

"You mean kings?"

"I shore do."

Yancy regarded him reflectively and made a mighty mental effort.

"There's them Bible kings--" he ventured at length.

Mr. Cavendish shook his head.

"Them's sacred kings. Are you familiar with any of the profane kings,
Mr. Yancy?"

"Well, taking them as they come, them Bible kings seemed to average
pretty profane." Yancy was disposed to defend this point.

"You must a heard of the kings of England. Sho', wa'n't any of yo' folks
in the war agin' him?"

"I'd plumb forgot, why my daddy fit all through that war!" exclaimed
Yancy. The Cavendishes were immensely relieved. Polly beamed on the
invalid, and the children hunched closer. Six pairs of eager lips were
trembling on the verge of speech.

"Now you-all keep still," said Cavendish. "I want Mr. Yancy should get
the straight of this here! The various orders of royalty are kings,
dukes, earls and lords. Earls is the third from the top of the heap, but
lords ain't no slouch; it's a right neat little title, and them that has
it can turn round in most any company."

"Dick had ought to know, fo' he's an earl himself," cried Polly
exultan