"No one better qualified for the task than yourself, sir," said his brother-in-law, Mr. Lester Leland.
"You will surely except our Cousin Ronald," said the captain; "doubtless he knows more about the phenomenon than any other person present."
"O Cousin Ronald," broke in Walter, "as we can't go skating this afternoon, won't you please tell us young ones some of your famous stories?"
"Perhaps, laddie; but there may be some other amusement provided, and in that case the tales will keep. It strikes me I heard some o' the leddies laying plans for the afternoon and evening?" he added, turning inquiringly in Zoe's direction.
"Yes, sir," she said, "we are getting up some tableaux, but are ready to defer them if any one wishes to do something else."
"I think we will not tax Cousin Ronald with story telling to-day," said Grandma Elsie: "he has been making a good deal of exertion in skating, and I know must feel weary."
"Are you, Cousin Ronald?" asked Walter.
"Well, laddie, I can no deny that there have been times when I've felt a bit brighter and more in the mood for spinning out a yarn, as the sailors say."
"And perhaps you'd like to see the tableaux too, sir?"
"Yes, I own that I should."