"Well, what do you think of us for a jolly little band of usurpers, Mr.
Farrel?"

"Why, I think I'm going to like you all very much if you'll give me half
a chance."

"I'd give you almost anything rather than be kicked out of this house,"
she replied, in her somewhat loud, high-pitched voice. "I love it, and I
think it's almost sinful on your part to have bobbed up so unexpectedly."

"Mother!" Kay cried reproachfully.

"Tut, tut, Kay, dear! When an obnoxious heir is reported dead, he should
have the decency to stay dead, although, now that our particular nuisance
is here, alive and well, I suppose we ought to let bygones be bygones and
be nice to him--provided, of course, he continues to be nice to us. Are
you inclined to declare war, Mr. Farrel?"

"Not until every diplomatic course has been tried and found wanting," he
replied.

Carolina entered, bearing five portions of sliced oranges.

"O Lord, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us," Mrs. Parker cried. "Where is Murray?"

Farrel glanced down at his oranges and grinned.

"I'm afraid I excused Murray," he confessed.