He asked to be excused a moment, and ran out into the porch and very soon arranged with Chap that he should move into Phil’s room and let the visitor have the one he occupied.
No further preparations being necessary, the new-comer was put into possession of Chap’s bed-chamber, while the big valise and small amount of clothing belonging to Master Webster were carried into Phil’s room.
Monsieur Emile desired to make some change in his toilet, and Phil left him to himself. He found Chap in the hall, eager to know all about this newly arrived cousin.
“All I know about him,” said Phil, “is that my aunt married a Frenchman named Touron, but I always thought she had no children.”
“And if she had had any,” said Chap, “they wouldn’t have been French ones.”
“That’s very true,” said Phil; “at least, not so French as this fellow. They would always have lived in America. And, besides, he is too old to be my aunt’s son. I remember when she was married. I was a little chap, but I heard it talked about.”
“Then it’s all plain enough,” said Chap. “Your French uncle was married twice, and this is one of the original children.”
“You are right, no doubt,” said Phil; “but that doesn’t make him much of a cousin, does it?”
“He seems to be quite at home, for all that,” said Chap.
“I have often heard,” said Phil, “that my aunt and her husband spent a good deal of time here while my grandfather was alive, and I suppose this boy was with them.”