more'n one, have you?"

"Why--why, yes, there are three. Mr. Holden--he is the headmaster, you
know--"

"Eh? Headmaster? Oh, you mean the boss teacher up there at the school?
Yes, yes. Um-hm."

"Yes, sir. Mr. Holden says the trunks should get here in a few days."

Mrs. Ellis, the housekeeper, made the next remark. "Did I understand you
to say you had THREE trunks?" she demanded.

"Why, yes."

"Three trunks for one boy! For mercy sakes, what have you got in 'em?"

"Why--why, my things. My clothes and--and--everything."

"Everything, or just about, I should say. Goodness gracious me, when
I go up to Boston I have all I can do to fill up one trunk. And I'm
bigger'n you are--bigger 'round, anyway."

There was no doubt about that. Captain Zelotes laughed shortly.

"That statement ain't what I'd call exaggerated, Rachel," he declared.
"Every time I see you and Laban out walkin' together he has to keep on
the sunny side or be in a total eclipse. And, by the way, speakin'
of Laban--Say, son, how did you and he get along comin' down from the
depot?"

"All right. It was pretty dark."

"I'll bet you! Laban wasn't very talkative, was he?"

"Why, yes, sir, he talked a good deal but he sang most of the time."

This simple statement appeared to cause a most surprising sensation. The
Snows and their housekeeper looked at each other. Captain Zelotes leaned
back in his chair and whistled.

"Whew!" he observed. "Hum! Sho! Thunderation!"

"Oh, dear!" exclaimed his wife.

Mrs. Ellis, the housekeeper, drew a long breath. "I might have expected
it," she said tartly. "It's past time. He's pretty nigh a month overdue,
as 'tis."

Captain Snow rose to his feet. "I was kind of suspicious when he started
for the barn," he declared. "Seemed to me he was singin' then. WHAT did
he sing, boy?" he asked, turning suddenly upon his grandson.

"Why--why, I don't know. I didn't notice particularly. You see, it was
pretty cold and--"

Mrs. Ellis interrupted. "Did he sing anything about somebody's bein' his
darlin' hanky-panky and wearin' a number two?" she demanded sharply.

"Why--why, yes, he did."

Apparently that settled it. Mrs. Snow said, "Oh, dear!" again and the
housekeeper also rose from the table.

"You'd better go right out to the barn this minute, Cap'n Lote," she
said, "and I guess likely I'd better go with you."

The captain already had his cap on his head.

"No, Rachel," he said, "I don't need you. Cal'late I ca