“But I CAN, Miss Martha. You know I can. Zach knows it, too. You've heard me, ain't you, Zach? Ain't you? Ain't you?”
Thus urged, Mr. Bloomer answered, “I've heard you,” he said. And added, fervently and under his breath, “Godfreys!”
“Primmie,” began Martha, again, but Captain Jethro broke in.
“Quiet, Martha Phipps,” he ordered. “Stop your talkin', all hands. Marietta, do you cal'late you could get under way with mouth organ music?”
“Why—why, I don't know. Maybe I could if—if it played church tunes.”
“Can you play hymn tunes, Primmie?”
“Yes, sir. I can play 'Sweet By and By' and 'Brighten the Corner Where You Be' and 'Pack up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag.' No, that ain't one, is it? But I can play—”
“Where's your mouth organ now?”
“It's in my jacket pocket out yonder in the kitchen.”
“Go fetch it.”