ourse. . . . Er . . . er. . . .
Did you see my codfish? Isn't it a magnificent one. I am very fond of
codfish and we almost never have it at home. So just now, I happened to
be passing Jonathan Howes'--he is the--er--fishdealer, you know, and
. . . Jonathan is a very regular attendant at my Sunday morning services.
He is--is. . . . Dear me. . . . What was I about to say?"

Being switched back to the main track by Albert he explained that he
had seen a number of cod in Mr. Howes' possession and had bought this
specimen. Howes had lent him the basket.

"And the newspaper," he explained; adding, with triumph, "I shall dine
on codfish to-day, I am happy to say." Judging by appearances he might
dine and sup and breakfast on codfish and still have a supply remaining.
Albert insisted on carrying the spoil to the parsonage. He was doing
nothing in particular and it would be a pleasure, he said. Mr. Kendall
protested for the first minute or so but then forgot just what the
protest was all about and rambled garrulously on about affairs in the
parish. He had failed in other faculties, but his flow of language was
still unimpeded. They entered the gate of the parsonage. Albert put the
basket on the upper step.

"There," he said; "now I must go. Good morning, Mr. Kendall."

"Oh, but you aren't going? You must come in a moment. I want to give you
the manuscript of that sermon of mine on the casting down of Baal, that
is the one in which I liken the military power of Germany to the brazen
idol which. . . . Just a moment, Albert. The manuscript is in my desk
and. . . . Oh, dear me, the door is locked. . . . Helen, Helen!"

He was shaking the door and shouting his daughter's name. Albert was
surprised and not a little disturbed. It had not occurred to him that
Helen could be at home. It is true that before he left for New York his
grandmother had said that she was planning to return home to be with her
father, but since then he had heard nothing more concerning her. Neither
of his grandparents had mentioned her name in their letters, nor since
his arrival the day before had they mentioned it. And Mr. Kendall had
not spoken of her during their walk together. Albert was troubled and
taken aback. In one way he would have liked to meet Helen very much
indeed. They had not met since before the war. But he did not, somehow,
wish to meet her just then. He did not wish to meet anyone who would
speak of Madeline, or ask embarrassing question