"We shall be further before we get nearer," said Ham.
"But I wonder what they are doing there,—mother and the girls and dear little Dabney?"
"Little Dabney!" exclaimed Ham. "Why, Miranda, do you think Dab is a baby yet?"
"No, not a baby. But———"
"Well, he's a boy, that's a fact; but he'll be as tall as I am in three years."
"Will he ever be fat?"
"Not till after he gets his full length," said Ham. "We must have him at our house a good deal, and feed him up. I've taken a liking to Dab."
"Feed him up!" said Miranda, with some indignation. "Do you think we starve him?"
"No; but how many meals a day does he get?"
"Three, of course, like the rest of us; and he never misses one of them."