ying:

"Ever make biscuit?"

"We eat corn pones mostly at home."

"Well, you can fry some bacon and eggs, I guess."

He gave the boy a small frying pan, showed him where to place it, then
lighted his lamp.

"That beats pine knots, don't it?" he asked, while Ralph noted with a
new wonder the ease and rapidity with which Mr. Quigg managed
everything.

While the meat and eggs were frying, the artist made coffee, thrust
some potatoes into the oven beside the biscuit, then completed his
morning toilet over a tin basin and a hand mirror.

"Better take a wash and a brush," said he to Ralph. "I'll dish up the
breakfast."

So, while Mr. Quigg set the table, the lad washed his face, brushed his
hair, and despite his homely looking jeans and rough brogans, presented
a very sightly appearance as he sat down opposite the little
photographer.

At least so the latter thought, and remained in apparent deep
reflection while eating.

Ralph saw the white granulated sugar for the first time, and, mistaking
it for salt, was about to sprinkle some on his egg.

"That's a queer way to eat sugar," said Quigg, happening to notice the
move.

"Goes pretty good that way, though," returned Ralph, determined to
martyr his palate rather than own up to any further ignorance.

He was already beginning to divine the primitive nature of his native
manner of life, but the consciousness of this fact only strengthened
his desire to familiarize himself with these strange usages.

Quigg laughed, then resumed his reverie.

After the meal was over, Ralph washed the dishes, while the artist made
up his bed and otherwise tidied up the car.

Two window sash of unusual size attracted the lad's attention.

"Those are my skylights," said Quigg. "You might polish them up a bit
after we leave Hendersonville. That is, if you are going on further."

Ralph had no definite idea as to where he wanted to go, except that he
thought of Captain Shard. Regardless of Mrs. Dopples' warning, he now
said that he had a notion of going on to Columbia.

"All right," responded Quigg, who liked Ralph's appearance the more he
saw of him. "Go on with me. You can help me for your keep until
something better offers. I shall stay in Columbia a week, then strike
for the coast. What say?"

Ralph assented gladly, and thought himself lucky in being afforded so
easy a chance to get forward. Presently he was rubbing away upon the
skylights, while Mr. Quigg produce