Individually, however, they were beloved by the Judge because they were
the children and grandchildren of a certain old Dinah who had slept in
a basket by his bed until she died.

Bob Flippin had a couple of setters, and the five canines formed a
wistful semicircle around the lunch basket.

The lunch basket was really a fishing-basket, lined with tin. In one
end was a receptacle for ice. After the lunch was eaten, the fish were
put next to the ice, and the basket thus served two purposes.

Among the other edibles there were always corncakes for the dogs. They
knew it, and had the patience of assured expectation.

"Truxton comes on Saturday," said the Judge as he watched Bob turn the
eggs expertly in the long-handled pan, "and Claudia. I told Becky to
ride over this morning and ask your wife if she could help Mandy.
Mandy's all right when there's nobody but the family, but when there's
company in prospect she moans and groans."

"Mollie's up at the Watermans'; Mrs. Waterman is worse. They expected
to take her to New York, but she is too ill, and they are going to have
the doctors bring another nurse."

"I had a note from Mr. Dalton," said the Judge, "saying they were
going. It was rather sudden, and he was sorry. Nice fellow. He liked
to come over and look at my birds."

Bob Flippin's eyes twinkled. "I reckon he liked to look at a pretty
girl----"

The Judge stared at him. "At Becky?"

Flippin nodded. "Didn't you know it?"

"Bless my soul." The Judge was unquestionably startled. "But I don't
know anything about him. I can't have him running after Becky."

"Seems to me he's been a-runnin'."

"But what would Claudia say? I don't know anything about his family.
Maybe he hasn't any family. How do I know he isn't a fortune-hunter?"

"Well, he isn't a bird hunter, I can tell you that. I saw him kick one
of your dogs. A man that will kick a dog isn't fit to hold a gun."

"No, he isn't," said the Judge, soberly. "I'm upset by what you've
said, Flippin. Dalton's all right as far as I can see as a friend of
mine. But when anybody comes courting at Huntersfield he's got to show
credentials."

He ate his lunch without much appetite. He was guiltily aware of what
Claudia would say if she knew what had happened.

But perhaps nothing had happened and perhaps she need not know. He
cheered up and threw a bit of ham to the waiting dogs. Perhaps Becky
wasn't interested. Perhaps, after all, Dalton