lling wid grandfathers."

Granfa appeared to have overheard, for he spoke up.

"I just want to bide here a little while, my dearie, till I hear from my
son in South Americer. The other two put me out, you see, so I've only him
to depend on, till I be called away."

Mary Ellen flushed. "You'd be welcome to stay if it was my house, sir; but
my misthress is to be reckoned wid. By God's mercy, she is off to a
missionary meeting tonight, her bein' president av the society for makin'
Unitarians out av the blacks. Sorra a thing will she hear of this till
mornin', and I'll put you in my own bed, and slape on two cheers in the
scullery, for it'd niver do for the boys' grandfather to be used like a
beggar-man."

We thought it a capital idea for Mary Ellen to sleep in the scullery--it
would save her the fag of running downstairs in the morning to get
breakfast, and Granfa would be conveniently placed for us, in case we
wanted a story or game before breakfast.

So, after partaking of a little nourishment, as The Seraph put it, we
retired to Mary Ellen's room; she leading the way up the dark backstairs
with a lighted candle; Granfa next bearing his little bundle; and we three
in the rear, exceedingly tired, but in excellent spirits.

Granfa looked very snug in Mary Ellen's bed, with his curly beard resting
comfortably on the red and white quilt, and his blue eyes twinkling up at
us.

"Comfy, Granfa?" asked The Seraph.

"I be just so cozy as an old toad," he replied. "I do believe I'm a-going
to be terr'ble happy in my new home."

Mary Ellen had gone downstairs to prepare her place in the scullery, so we
climbed on the bed with him, making believe it was a smuggler's cutter, and
had many hair-raising adventures that were brought to an end, at last, by
the discovery that Granfa was fast asleep.

We were at the windlass heaving up the anchor, at the time, and had just
struck up a sailor's chanty, which made a good deal of noise, but nothing
seemed to disturb Granfa. He slumbered peacefuly through all the rattle of
chains, and shouting of commands, so, somewhat subdued, we decided there
was nothing for it but to seek our berths.

Snug beneath our covers, at last, we felt to the full, the new spirit of
adventure that had spread its irridescent wings over the house. There was
Granfa, snoring under Mary Ellen's patchwork quilt; there was the trusty
Mary Ellen, herself, stowed away in the scullery; there was Mrs.
Handsomebody,