Mrs. Ginn looked at Captain Dan. There was a twinkle in his eye. Azuba noticed that twinkle.
“Laban,” she stammered, “I—I—I CAN'T stay here and get supper to-night. I can't.”
Laban was tremendously surprised—at least he pretended to be.
“Can't!” he repeated. “Can't stay here, when I've just got home?”
“No, I can't. If I had known you was comin' 'twould have been different. But I didn't know it.”
“What difference does that make? Zuby, don't make me laugh; I'm too hungry for jokin'. Take off your bonnet, now; take it off.”
“I mustn't, really, Labe. It's lodge night and they expect me. I—”
“Take off your bonnet!”
“I can't! ... Well, I will, for just a minute.” The last sentence was added in a great hurry, for her husband showed signs of preparing to remove the headgear with his own hands. She placed the bonnet on the table and fidgeted in her chair, glancing first at her employer and then at the clock. Captain Dan was smiling broadly.
“That's fine!” exclaimed Mr. Ginn. “Now you look like home folks. Now she'll get us some supper, won't she, Cap'n?”