you must have pie, why not good, plain
beefsteak? It's jest as fillin' an' cheaper, my dear--so why an'
wherefore kidneys?"

"Arthur likes them, and he'll be hungry when he comes in--"

"Hungry," snorted Mrs. Trapes, "that b'y's been hungry ever since he
drawed the breath o' life. How's he gettin' on with his new job?"

"Oh, splendidly!" cried Hermione, flushing with sisterly pride, "they've
promised him a raise next month."

"What, already?" exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, cutting viciously into a potato.
"If he don't watch out, they'll be makin' him a partner next."

"Oh, Ann, I wish you were not quite so--so hard on him!" sighed
Hermione. "Remember, he's only a boy!"

"You were a woman at his age, earning enough t' keep ye both--but there!
I don't mean t' be hard, Hermy; anyway, a man's never much good till
he's growed up, and then only because some woman teaches him how t' be."

"What do you say to that, Mr. Geoffrey?" enquired Hermione, pausing,
flour-dredger in hand, to glance at him slily under her brows.

"I think Mrs. Trapes is a wonderful woman," he answered.

"Ah, now, Mr. Geoffrey, quit y'r jollying," said Mrs. Trapes, smiling at
the potato.

"Mrs. Trapes has taught me much wisdom already and, among other things,
that I shall never be or do anything worth the while without the aid of
a woman--"

"Lord, Mr. Geoffrey, I never remember sayin' no sich thing!"

"Not in so many words, perhaps, but you implied it, Mrs. Trapes."

"H'm!" said Mrs. Trapes dubiously.

"Consequently, I mean to ask that woman--on the very first opportunity,
Miss Hermione." Seeing that Hermione was silent, all her attention being
centred in the dough her white fists were kneading, Mrs. Trapes spoke
instead.

"D' ye mean as you want some one t' look after you--to sew an' cook an'
wash an' sew buttons on for ye--I know the sort!"

"I certainly do, and--"

"Ah, it's a slave you want, Mr. Geoffrey, and peanut men don't have
slaves--not unless they marries 'em, and a woman as would marry a peanut
man has only herself t' blame--peanuts!"

Hermione laughed, reached for the rolling-pin, and immediately fell to
work with it, her head stooped rather lower than was necessary. As for
Ravenslee, he lounged in his chair, watching the play of those round,
white arms.

"But why the kidneys, Hermy? You've got to cut out luxuries now, my
dear--we all have, I guess; it'll be dry bread next, I reckon."

"Why so?" enquired Ravenslee lazily.