“No, no, Neddie boy, papa won’t let him harm his baby,” the captain said, taking the little trembler in his arms, while Grace still kept close at his side.
The barking suddenly ceased, nor was the rough voice heard again, and Walter, running to the corner whence the sounds had proceeded, announced with a merry laugh that neither man nor dog was in sight.
“The chicken and the bee seem to have gone too,” he added as he came running back, “and there’s the tea-bell.”
With that all rose and repaired to the dining-room. There Marian was seated beside Lulu, the captain next, Grace on his other side, and Violet and her two little ones opposite them.
A blessing was asked and the plates were filled; then a lull in the conversation was broken by a rough voice saying in a sarcastic tone, “Now ef you folks was as perlite and hospitable as we are out West, you’d invite this stranger to take a seat among ye and have a cup o’ coffee and something to eat.”
Almost every one looked startled and all eyes turned in the direction of the sounds, which seemed to come from behind Edward’s chair.
“An invisible speaker, as might have been expected,” laughed Violet.
“Show yourself, sir, take a seat at the table, and you shall be helped to all you wish of anything and everything upon it,” said Edward, glancing about as if in search of the unexpected intruder.
“Show myself? Humph! keen-eyed you must be if you can’t see a man o’ my size,” returned the voice.
“Perhaps so, sir,” replied Edward, turning a knowing and amused look upon Cousin Ronald, “and I think I do see you very well. But have you been neglected? Your plate and cup look to me to be well filled.”