A farmer's table is plentiful, though homely. The two tramps made an abundant meal, both doing justice to the homely fare. The farmer's wife looked on with hospitable satisfaction. She could not bear to have anybody hungry under her roof.
"You'll excuse our appetite, ma'am," said Rudolph, "but we've had nothing to eat since breakfast."
"Eat as much as you like," said she. "We never stint anybody here. Is that your son?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Tony bent his eyes upon his plate, and frowned slightly. He wanted to deny it, but did not dare.
"He don't look a bit like you," said the woman. "He's light, and you're very dark."
"His mother was light," said Rudolph. "He takes after her."
"How old is he?"
"Tony, tell the lady how old you are."
"Fourteen."