“There!” she exclaimed, despairingly. “Now see what you've done. Oh, Zelotes, how many times have I told you you've got to treat her tactful when she's this way?”
Captain Lote put the egg back in the bowl.
“DAMN!” he observed, with intense enthusiasm.
His wife shook her head.
“Swearin' don't help it a mite, either,” she declared. “Besides I don't know what Albert here must think of you.” Albert, who, between astonishment and a wild desire to laugh, was in a critical condition, appeared rather embarrassed. His grandfather looked at him and smiled grimly.
“I cal'late one damn won't scare him to death,” he observed. “Maybe he's heard somethin' like it afore. Or do they say, 'Oh, sugar!' up at that school you come from?” he added.
Albert, not knowing how to reply, looked more embarrassed than ever. Olive seemed on the point of weeping.
“Oh, Zelotes, how CAN you!” she wailed. “And to-day, of all days! His very first mornin'!”
Captain Lote relented.
“There, there, Mother!” he said. “I'm sorry. Forget it. Sorry if I shocked you, Albert. There's times when salt-water language is the only thing that seems to help me out . . . Well, Mother, what next? What'll we do now?”