d Kenelm as
she might have treated a child, an only child who needed constant
suppression.

"Please to be seated, everybody," she said. "Cap'n Obed, you take your
reg'lar place. Mrs. Barnes, if you'll be so kind as to set here, and
Miss Howes next to you. Kenelm, you set side of me. Set down, don't
stand there fidgetin'. WHAT did you put on that necktie for? I told you
to put on the red one."

Kenelm fingered his tie. "I--I cal'late I must have forgot, Hannah," he
stammered. "I never noticed. This one's all right, ain't it?"

"All right! It'll have to be. You can't change it now. But, for goodness
sakes, look out it stays on. The elastic's all worn loose and it's
li'ble to drop into your tea or anywheres else. Now," with a sudden
change from a family to a "company" manner, "may I assist you to a piece
of the cold ham, Miss Howes? I trust you are feelin' quite restored to
yourself again?"

Emily's answer being in the affirmative, their hostess continued:

"I'm so sorry to be obliged to set nothin' but cold ham and toast and
tea before you," she said. "If I had known you was comin' I should have
prepared somethin' more fittin'. After such an experience as you must
have been through this night to set down to ham and toast! I--I declare
I feel real debilitated and ashamed to offer 'em to you."

Thankful answered.

"Don't say a word, Miss Parker," she said, heartily. "We're the ones
that ought to be ashamed. Landin' on you this way in the middle of the
night. You're awfully good to take us in at all. My cousin and I were
on our way to the hotel, but Cap'n Bangs wouldn't hear of it. He's
responsible for our comin' here."

Miss Parker nodded.

"Cap'n Obed is the most hospital soul livin'," she said, grandly. "He
done just right. If he'd done anything else Kenelm and I would have felt
hurt. I--Look out!" with a sudden snatch at her brother's shirt front.
"There goes that tie. Another second and 'twould have been right in your
plate."

Kenelm snapped the loop of the "made" tie over his collar button. "Don't
grab at me that way, Hannah," he protested mildly. "I'm kind of nervous
tonight, after what I've been through. 'Twouldn't have done no great
harm if I had dropped it. I could pick it up again, couldn't I?"

"You could, but I doubt if you would. You might have ate it, you're
so absent-minded. Nervous! YOU nervous! What do you think of me? Mrs.
Barnes," turning to Thankful and once more resuming the "company"
man