“Well, what do you think?” he asked slyly.
“I think the very devil is in it,” I replied.
“Well, mebby,” he admitted. “It’s two-thirds hard cider and one-third whisky. It’s a healthy, hearting drink and yet it has a leetle come back to it––a sort o’ kick, you know. But this is where I live,” pointing to a farmhouse well back from the road, “but I am goin’ to run you on to your tavern though.”
The hotel was dark, save for a light in my room. I invited him in, but he was anxious to “git hum and tell the folks”, 119 so I gave him some cigars and went in to “tell my folks.”
I found them in the room waiting for me. That is, Beth was in the room, sitting by the table and pretending to read. Silvia and Rob were out in the little balcony. They came inside as soon as they heard my voice.
“Oh, was he there?” asked Silvia anxiously.
“Yes,” I replied. “He answered the telephone himself.”
I was feeling quite exhilarated by this time. My wife looked a perfect vision to me. Beth, I thought, was some sister, and Rob the best fellow in the world. Even the Polydores at long range, and under the ameliorating influence of stone fences, seemed like fine little fellows––rather active and strenuous, to be sure, but only as all wholesome children should be.
Silvia was relieved at the announcement of Ptolemy’s safety, but very much disappointed that I did not succeed in interviewing Huldah and finding out something about domestic affairs.