"You might make me some," he suggested, "and I'll promise to encourage you while you do it."
"No, thank you," she returned loftily; "you'd be in the way."
"I expect I'm in the way now," he observed, making himself more comfortable against the pillar of the porch. "When needles fly, women's tongues fly faster; when women sew, they rip their husbands to pieces."
A faint flush came into Mrs. Franklin's face as she bent over her work.
"I'll wager, now," continued Ronald, "that when you saw me coming, you had to change the subject. Mrs. Franklin was explaining the vagaries of the Captain, Mrs. Howard was telling what she was obliged to put up with, and Miss Manning was talking about me."
The implication sharpened the edge of the girl's tongue. "You ought to be very glad you're not married," she said sweetly; "and it goes without saying that you never will be. Nobody on earth would have you!"
"Don't quarrel, children," put in Katherine, hastily. "Here comes Ralph."
The Lieutenant sat down opposite Ronald and wiped his forehead. "Lord!" he exclaimed, "isn't it hot!"
"Get a little closer to Miss Manning," advised the Ensign. "She's in an icy mood this morning."