"You have!" she exclaimed.
"And from now on," said the Captain, still very serious, "I shall smoke a pipe."
With that he took notice for the first time of the package in his hand. It contained a case, which he opened slowly.
"Isn't it a beauty?" he said, holding up a new briar pipe.
"Yes," she replied faintly; "but, Uncle, how did you get it?"
He cleared his throat.
"One must make a beginning," he said; "economy is positively necessary. I bought it."
"Uncle, you didn't spend Frank Toby's subscription for a pipe!"
The Captain looked a little offended.
"Anthy, it was a bargain. It was marked down from two dollars."