"Ah ha! um h'm! ah ha! history repeats itself. But, Cousin Elsie, I
didna expect to be treated to a meal o' livin' creatures in your house."

"Did you not?" she returned with a smile. "Life is full of surprises."

"And grandpa and Ned go on carving without any apparent thought of the
cruelty of cutting into living creatures," laughed Zoe.

"And what a singular circumstance that chickens baked in a pie should
sing like blackbirds," remarked Grandma Elsie.

"Very indeed!" said Capt. Raymond. "I move that some one prepare an
article on the subject for one of the leading magazines."

"No one better qualified for the task than yourself, sir," said his
brother-in-law, Mr. Lester Leland.

"You will surely except our Cousin Ronald," said the captain; "doubtless
he knows more about the phenomenon than any other person present."

"O Cousin Ronald," broke in Walter, "as we can't go skating this
afternoon, won't you please tell us young ones some of your famous
stories?"

"Perhaps, laddie; but there may be some other amusement provided, and in
that case the tales will keep. It strikes me I heard some o' the leddies
laying plans for the afternoon and evening?" he added, turning
inquiringly in Zoe's direction.