"Exactly. Next to us three, the men that work their brains the hardest around here are Mr. Fallow and my friend Dr. Brandegee."
"And you never asked me a word about it!"
"About what?" inquired Dabney. "I must say I don't quite understand. Do you mean, about what we were to do with our fish?"
"Of course I do. I can't allow"—
She hesitated a moment, as if the next words were slow in coming; and
Dab helped her out with,—
"Can't allow what, Mrs. Myers?" and Ford added,—
"Now, Mrs. Myers, there's nothing healthier than fish. It won't hurt either of 'em. Is supper ready?"
"I hope it is," said Dab. "I'm getting hungry again."
Mrs. Myers looked at them in amazement; and so did Miss Almira, for, if one thing was plainer than another, it was that neither of those three boys understood the nature of her complaint. It did not seem to occur to them, that she had, or could, or would claim any control over the results of their day's fun; not even when she said,—
"I intended one string for Deacon Short, and another for Mrs.
Sunderland"—