“Yes, but it isn’t quite fitting for you to call an older person Sister, especially when you are not a church member yourself.”
Frank subsided with a shy glance at his father.
Ernest seized the opportunity to impart his budget, though with a mouth rather too full of beefsteak and potatoes to make his words intelligible.
“Carol says—(swallow)—that old Gassett tackled him—(swallow)——”
Dr. and Mrs. Morton started in together, but Mrs. Morton finished.
“Don’t try to talk with your mouth full.”
Ernest hurriedly disposed of his food and resumed.
“Carol says old Gassett tackled him about those stock certificates and he just told him we didn’t find any papers with his name on. If we had, we’d have returned them along with the silver.”
“That was a mighty smart-Alecky speech,” said his father. “Carol should learn to be more respectful to his elders.”