"Fuz and Joe civil to Dab Kinzer?" exclaimed Ford.
"Certainly, I hope so."
"Father," said Ford, "may I say just what I was thinking?"
"Speak it right out."
"Well, I was thinking what a good time Fuz and Joe would be likely to have trying to get ahead of Dab Kinzer."
Annie looked at her brother and nodded, and there was a bit of a twinkle in the eyes of the lawyer himself, but he only remarked:
"Well, you must be neighborly. I don't believe the Hart boys know much about the sea-shore."
"Dab and Frank and I will try and educate them."
Annie thought of the ink and her box of ruined cuffs and collars while her brother was speaking. Could it be that Ford meant a good deal more than he was saying? At all events she fully agreed with him on the Dab Kinzer question. That was one council, and it was of peace or war according as events and the Hart boys themselves should determine.
At the same hour, however, matters of even greater importance were coming to a decision around the well-filled breakfast-table in the Morris mansion. Ham had given a pretty full account of his visit to Grantley, including his dinner at Mrs. Myers', and all he had learned of the academy.