“Captain Price!” she parried, breathlessly.

“So long as our affectionate children have suggested it!”

“Suggested—what?”

“Let’s give ’em something to cry about!”

“Alfred!”

“Look here: we are two old fools; so they say, anyway. Let’s live up to their opinion. I’ll get a house for Cyrus and Gussie—and your girl can live with ’em, if she wants to!” The Captain’s bitterness showed then.

“She could live here,” murmured Mrs. North.

“What do you say?”

The little old lady laughed excitedly, and shook her head; the tears stood in her eyes.

“Do you want to leave Old Chester?” the Captain demanded.