"Ont daykumboa," repeats Master Ralph.
"What does the child mean?" asks Miss Helena.
"I don't know. What do you want, Ralphie?"
Ralph, with a look of mingled contempt and pity at his stupid relatives, says, slowly but emphatically, "Ont daykumboa."
"Perhaps he is hungry. I'll go and get him a piece of cake," says Miss Helena.
The cake is brought, and promptly accepted; but it is evidently not the thing for which his soul longs, for after devouring half the slice he plaintively murmurs, "Ont daykumboa."
"Well, isn't that daykumboa?" says Miss Judith.
Ralph gives her a scornful look as sole answer, and finishes his cake in awful silence. As the last crumb disappears he sighs, "Ont daykumboa."
"What on earth and under the sun does the child want!" is the combined exclamation of the aunts.
"Perhaps Elijah can help us."