He saw the children flush uncomfortably. Carl dropped his eyes and Mary slipped a hand into her mother's.
"Now instead of clamoring at her like a lot of ungrateful little brutes and wanting the whole earth, why don't you show her you are grateful for what she's doing?" went on Captain Dillingham in a sharper tone.
"Oh, it's all right, Frederick," interrupted Mrs. McGregor hurriedly. "I don't want——"
The captain, however, was not to be stopped.
"Your mother is ready to give you turkey or a tree. How many are for turkey?"
Carl and Tim raised their hands.
"And who is for the tree?"
Instantly Mary, Martin, and Nell raised their hands.
"It is the tree, as I see it," acclaimed he.
"But it isn't fair," Tim objected. "James Frederick didn't vote."