spots and rents are
from the children's feet. They are such active little things,
especially Saint Augustine."

Then she looked at her husband inquiringly and he nodded his head in
approval. After which he disappeared into the third room, or lean-to,
and was gone some time. When he returned he had a well-worn pewter
tray in hand upon which he had arranged with careful exactness four
chunks of cold suppawn and four tin cups of buttermilk. These he
passed to his guests with a fine air of hospitality, and they accepted
the offering in the same courteous spirit. All except Gerald, who had
fallen asleep and whose portion was set aside till he should wake.
Melvin choked over the tasteless cold pudding and the very sour
buttermilk, but he would have choked still more and from a different
cause had he suspected that he was helping to eat the family
breakfast, for want of which six healthy youngsters would go hungry
on the coming day.

Presently, Mrs. Lucetta rose and blew out the candle. Jim's early
training in poverty told him that its burning longer was an
"extravagance" when there was such brilliant moonlight to take its
place, and that his hostess felt it such. Also, reminded him that they
should be leaving this hospitable house if they were to reach the
Water Lily that night. Only, what about Gerald?

Rising, he asked:

"Mr. Stillwell, can you show us the way to Deer-Copse, or tell us
I mean? Our house-boat must be there and our folks'll be anxious.
And don't you s'pose we could carry Gerry there, just the same as
we brought him here? I'm sure we're more obliged to you and Mrs.
Stillwell than I can very well say. You treated us prime--and----"

From the foot of the bed where she sat Mrs. Lucetta answered for her
husband. Evidently she did most of his thinking for him.

"I've fixed all that. This sick boy must stay just where he is till he
can walk to the Copse on his own feet. That won't be to-morrow nor
next day. So one of you other boys had best stay, too. He might be
afraid of me----"

"Hear! hear! afraid of Lucetty! He'd be the first livin' creatur' 't
ever was, then!" interrupted Corny, with his hearty laugh.

"You can lead them the way better than tell it. On your way back you'd
better call on Dr. Jabb and ask him to ride round."

"Lucetty? A doctor? Just because a healthy boy got caught in a 'gust'?
Wh----"

"Yes, Corny, dear, but you see he isn't _our_ boy. It would be better,
and of course, if these