"We're going among savages," continued Mr. Stobell, casting about for arguments; "cannibal savages."
"They won't eat her," said Mrs. Chalk, with a passing glance at the scanty proportions of her friend, "not while you're about."
"I don't like to take my wife into danger," said Mr. Stobell, with surly bashfulness; "I'm—I'm too fond of her for that. And she don't want to come. Do you, Alice?"
"No," said Mrs. Stobell, dutifully, "but I want to share your dangers, Robert."
"Say 'yes' or 'no' without any trimmings," commanded her husband, as he intercepted a look passing between her and Mrs. Chalk. "Do-you-want-to- come?"
Mrs. Stobell trembled. "I don't want to prevent Mr. Chalk from going," she murmured.
"Never mind about him," said Mr. Stobell.
"Do—you—want—to—come.
"Yes," said Mrs. Stobell.
Her husband, hardly able to believe his ears, gazed at her in bewilderment. "Very well, then," he said, in a voice that made the tea-cups rattle. "COME!"