"I think you will find it both," said the captain.
"So you would 'Corn and Beans,' too, Aunt Zoe," said Max. "Papa gave it to me, and we tried it Christmas eve at home, and found it very funny."
The morning and most of the afternoon were occupied with these games, which seemed to afford much enjoyment to the children and young people.
It was the winding up of their Christmas festivities at Ion, and all were in the mood for making it as gay and mirthful as possible. Some—the Raymonds among others—would leave shortly after tea, the rest by or before bedtime.
They finished the sports of the afternoon with two charades. The older people were the spectators, the younger ones the actors.
Mendicant was the word chosen for the first.
A number of the boys and girls came trooping into the parlor, each carrying an old garment, thimble on finger, and needle and thread in hand. Seating themselves they fell to work.
Zoe was patching an old coat, Lulu an apron, Gracie a doll's dress; Eva and Rosie each had a worn stocking drawn over her hand, and was busily engaged in darning it; the other girls were mending gloves, the boys old shoes; and as they worked they talked among themselves.
"Zoe," said Maud, "I should mend that coat differently."
"How would you mend it?" asked Zoe.