"Chee, Pinckney!" says I, "you look like you was pleased with the amateur uncle business."
"Why not?" says he. "You ought to see how glad those youngsters are to see me when I come in. And we have great sport."
"Hotel people still friendly?" says I.
"Why," says he, "I believe there have been a few complaints. But we'll soon be out of that. I've leased a country house for the summer, you know."
"A house!" says I. "You with a house! Who'll run it?"
"S-s-s-sh!" says he, pullin' me one side and talkin' into my ear. "I'm going West to-night, to bring on her mother, and——"
"Oh, I see," says I. "You're goin' to offer Gerty the job?"
Pinckney gets a colour on his cheek bones at that. "She's a charming girl, Shorty," says he.
"She's nothin' less," says I; "and them twins are all right too. But say, Pinckney, I'll bet you never meet a steamer again without knowin' all about why you're there. Eh?"