“Not after Mike,” she replied, her eyes gleaming more brightly through the moisture not yet dried.
It was impossible for the Irish lad to restrain his humor, and soon he had them all smiling, but there was no loud laughter such as greeted his first sallies, and the conversation as a whole was soberer and more thoughtful. Alvin and Chester told of their school experiences, and finally Mike related his adventure when marooned on the lonely island well out toward the Atlantic and his friends found him after they had given him up as drowned.
So the evening wore away until, at a seasonable hour, the head of the household said that when they wished to retire she would show them to their room. Just then Mike had his hand over his mouth in the effort to repress a yawn. Nora laughingly pointed at him.
“In a few minutes he’ll be asleep and will tumble off his chair.”
“I’m afeard ye’re right, as I replied to me tacher whin he obsarved that I was the biggest numskull in Tipperary County. Come, Captain and sicond mate—ye won’t forgit, Miss Nora, that I’m first mate of the battleship Deerfut.”
The girl went to the kitchen from which she speedily returned, carrying a hand lamp, which she gave to her mother. She nodded to the lads, who followed her to the door of the apartment assigned them for the night. They entered behind her as she set the light on the stand and turned about.
“I think you will find everything as you wish.”
“It couldn’t be itherwise, whin it’s yersilf that has provided the same. Be that token, we’re getting more than we desarve.”
“Nothing could be finer,” added Alvin, glancing round the lighted room. “It’s as neat as a pin and we shall sleep the sleep of the just.”
The three had noticed when in the parlor the portrait suspended in the place of honor. The blue uniform, the military cap resting on one knee, and the strong, expressive face told their own story. It was the picture of Captain Carter Friestone, taken many a year before, when in the flush of his patriotic young manhood. A smaller picture was on the wall of the bedroom of mother and daughter.