e had betrayed at the previous
afternoon's worship, and in all hearts, even those of the senator's
group, it brought back for him the same tender indulgence as before.
Meanwhile Ramsey and the cub pilot had caught up the cane's two parts
and laid them in the hands of the actor, who quietly resheathed them
while Basile mocked the twins. "So that's the way Hayles," jeered the
lad, "stand by a cat's-paw friend, is it?"

"Hayles," said Julian, "never settle difficulties before ladies."

The boy resisted again as his laughing sister half knelt to lay her arms
about him soothingly. "Oh, these ladies won't mind," he tearfully
sneered. "Come on! Here's your man, with the steel, and three behind
each of you to see fair play!" A wave of the hand indicated Lucian and
the canes' owners on one side, and himself, the cub pilot, and Hugh on
the other. The latter and the players, momentarily together, gave sudden
attention, but again the humor of the situation saved it. The laugh was
general; the young people about the captain, whom his equanimity and
Ramsey's and Mrs. Gilmore's stay had emboldened to linger, drew near;
and the three groups became one.

The twins themselves might have made fair actors, though no one ever had
dared suggest it. Julian scowled on Gilmore and Hugh and half drew the
other cane from his folded arms, but then looked distantly away, while
Lucian with an indolent air said to the younger brother:

"Babe! Hayles never line up on two sides."

To retort, the lad had to snatch Ramsey's fingers from his lips and so
lost his chance, while under her breath she futilely implored him to
desist.

"I'm not!" he wailed back at her. "I'm not ridiculous! You! you'll find
judgment-day ridiculous, I don't doubt--oh, good Lordy! stop your
eternal titter."

The great bell thundered and he recoiled. "There! wood! 'wood, partly.'
And partly what else? d'you know? Another funeral." In spite of her fond
restraints he cried out to the company: "With more to follow! The
bishop----"

But the sister's fingers were on his lips once more and while she half
whispered, half laughed her tender chidings old Joy appeared, coming
from the bishop's bedside. Ramsey turned a beseeching look to Hugh but
the general had halted the nurse with a private question and now
proclaimed:

"Th-the bishop's doing as well's could be exxxpected."

"Expected!" cried Basile, "yes, when he's expected to die. And then
it'll be my turn."

"It won't!" e