Aunt Dorothy's cows" became as great a family joke as "Aunt Dorothy's lunatics;" indeed, scarcely a day passed that the household was not amused by some quaint mistake of hers. Every one chaffed her, especially Bob; and as the two patients rapidly recovered, the house-party was a merry one. In spite of the thought of parting with his family so soon, Mr. Orban was in much better spirits; the cane had been safely cut, the good crop had been spoiled neither by fire nor the rainy season coming too soon, and the crushing was well in progress.
"Oh dear," exclaimed Nesta one morning at breakfast, "I am so sorry you are getting well, Bob."
"Very kind of you, I'm sure," said Bob with deliberate politeness. "One is always so glad of one's friends' good wishes."
Every one laughed except Nesta.
"Well, you know what I mean," she said. "Of course the minute you are well you will go, and the house will be duller than ever without you."
"Very prettily put for the rest of us, dear," said Miss Chase. "I am sure we feel much complimented."
"I don't know what you mean," said Nesta in bewilderment. "I didn't mean to compliment any one."
"You achieved it, however," said Bob. "You called them a pack of dull dogs not fit to live with. Of course they feel charmed with your opinion."
"Oh, I didn't," said Nesta.