"Yes," answered Eri dryly. "We tried. First we thought 'twas goin' to
be fine; then we thought we'd like it better after we got used to it;
finally we decided that by the time we got used to it we'd die, like the
horse that was fed on sawdust."

"And so you hired Mrs. Snow to keep house for you? Well, I don't see how
you could have made a better choice; she's a dear, good woman; I'm
sure of it. And now I want to thank you all for what you've done for
grandfather. Mrs. Snow told me all about it; you've been so kind that
I--"

"That's all right! that's all right!" hastily interrupted Captain Eri.
"Pity if we couldn't help out a shipmate we've sailed with for years and
years. But you'd ought to have tried some of OUR cookin'. Tell her about
the sugar cake you made, Perez. The one that killed the yaller chicken."

So Captain Perez told it, and then their visitor set them all laughing
by relating some queer housekeeping experiences that she and a school
friend had had while camping at Chautauqua. Somehow each one felt at
home with her. As Captain Eri said afterwards, "She didn't giggle, and
then ag'in she didn't talk down at you."

As they rose from the table the young lady asked a question concerning
the location of the hotel. The Captain made no answer at the time, but
after a short consultation with the remainder of the triumvirate, he
came to her as she stood by the window and, laying his hand on her
shoulder, said:

"Now, Elsie--I hope you don't mind my callin' you Elsie, but I've
been chums with your grandpa so long seems's if you must be a sort of