"Yes, ma'am. He cut it all right! He likes to cut Chris'mus trees. He says most people don't know a good Chris'mus tree when they see one."
"One could scarce say that about him."
This delicate compliment brought forth no response from Sube except a dark scowl, but it terminated Mrs. Hotchkiss-Harger's part of the conversation, and she yielded to her sister's earnest solicitation that she lie down for a while.
Left alone with Nancy for a moment Sube began to look around for his cap. "I gotta be goin' home," he whispered huskily.
"Going home!" cried Nancy. "Why, you just got here! And besides, we haven't put a thing on the tree yet!"
"I know it," muttered Sube, "but my mother tole me I could only stay a couple of minutes—"
"Why, it isn't late at all! What time do you have to go?"
"What time is it now?"
Nancy stepped to the door and looked at the big clock in the hall. "Why, it's only twenty-five minutes after seven!" she announced joyfully.
"I gotta go at ha'-past," said Sube, as he struggled to extricate his cap from his coat-pocket where he had finally located it.