As he did so, his hand touched the paper parcel in his pocket, and realizing that it was untied, he hastily endeavored, by a series of surreptitious manœuvers, to conceal what it contained. Feeling the quizzical eye of his shipmate full upon him, he assumed an air of studied indifference, and stoically ignored the subterranean chuckles and knowing winks in which Mr. Fallows indulged.
Presently, when the situation had become poignant, Mr. Opp observed that he supposed the funeral would take place from the church.
“I reckon so,” said Jimmy, reluctantly answering to the call of the conversational rudder. “I told the boys to have a hack there for you and Mr. Ben and Miss Kippy.”
“I don’t think my sister will be there,” said Mr. Opp, with dignity; “she seldom or never leaves the house.”
[p16]
“Reckon Mr. Ben will have to take keer of her now,” said Jimmy; “she surely will miss her pa. He never done a lick of work since I knowed him, but he was a nice, quiet old fellow, and he certainly was good to pore Miss Kippy.”
“Mr. Moore was a gentleman,” said Mr. Opp, and he sighed.
“Ain’t she got any kin on his side? No folks except you two half-brothers?”
“That’s all,” said Mr. Opp; “just I and Ben.”
“Gee! that’s kind of tough on you all, ain’t it?”
But the sympathy was untimely, for Mr. Opp’s dignity had been touched in a sensitive place.