sugar, Todd."

The boy laughed gently: "Lazy Tom's?"

"Lazy Tom's--and the best-hearted fellow in the world. They're going to
make him a judge, they say and--"

"--What of--peach brandy? No cream in mine, Todd."

"No--you scurrilous dog--of the Common Court," retorted St. George,
looking at him over the top of his cup. "Very good lawyer is Tom--got
horse sense and can speak the truth--make a very good judge."

Again Harry laughed--rather a forced laugh this time, as if he were
trying to make himself agreeable but with so anxious a ring through it
that Todd busied himself about the table before going below for fresh
supplies, making excuse of collecting the used dishes. If there were to
be any revelations concerning the situation at the Seymour house, he did
not intend to miss any part of them.

"Better put Mrs. Coston on the bench and set Tom to rocking the cradle,"
said the young man, reaching for the plate of corn pone. "She's a
thoroughbred if ever I saw one, and does credit to her blood. But go
on--tell me about the birds. Are they flying high?--and the duck
blinds; have they fixed them up? They were all going to pot when I was
there last."

"Birds out of range, most of them--hard work getting what I did. As to
the blinds, they are still half full of water--got soaking wet trying to
use one. I shot most of mine from the boat just as the day broke," and