Then Mrs. Carroll laughed, not a laugh of embarrassment, but a delightful, spontaneous peal, and the others, even Major Arms, who had looked solemnly nonplussed, joined her.
Eddy ate his cereal with a sly eye of delight upon the mirthful faces. “Yes,” said he, further. “I wish you'd stay here all the time, Major Arms, and stay engaged to Ina instead of marrying her; then all the rest of us would have enough to eat. We always have plenty when you are here.”
He looked around for further applause, but he did not get it. Charlotte gave him a sharp poke in the side to institute silence.
“What are you poking me for, Charlotte?” he asked, aggrievedly. She paid no attention to him.
“Don't you think it is strange we don't hear from papa?” said Charlotte.
Major Arms stared at her. “Do you mean to say you have not heard from him since he went away?” he asked.
“Not a word,” replied Mrs. Carroll, cheerfully.
“I am a little uneasy about papa,” said Ina, but she went on eating her breakfast quite composedly.
“I should be if I had ever known him to fail to take care of himself,” said Mrs. Carroll.
“It's the other folks that had better look out,” remarked Eddy, with perfect innocence, though would-be wit. He looked about for applause.