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"Don't it seem to you, Zelotes," she asked her husband, "as if Albert was kind of discontented or unsatisfied these days? He's so so sort of fidgety. Talks like the very mischief for ten minutes and then don't speak for half an hour. Sits still for a long stretch and then jumps up and starts off walkin' as if he was crazy. What makes him act so? He's kind of changed from what he used to be.
"Oh, I'm all right," he said, with dignity. Somehow the dignity seemed to have little effect upon Captain Zelotes. "Um yes, I know," observed the latter dryly, "but I guess likely you'll be more all right in bed. Mother, you'll show Albert where to turn in, won't you? There's your suitcase out there in the hall, son. I fetched it in from the barn just now." Mrs. Snow ventured a protest.
Only thing that's liable to break it down is over-work." Captain Zelotes said very little. "Write us when you can, Al," he said. "And come home whenever you get leave." "You may be sure of that, Grandfather. And after I get to camp perhaps you can come and see me." "Maybe so. Will if I can. . . . Well, Al, I . . . I. . . . Good luck to you, son." "Thank you, Grandfather." They shook hands.
Then she added, pointing to an advancing sleigh. "Good land, there's that Smith girl. They said she wasn't able to ride out. Seems to me she's taken a queer day for it." "Was that that Tinny fellow?" Mrs. Zelotes asked again. She leaned forward and gave Eva a hard nudge on her red-coated elbow. "Yes, it was," Eva answered, calmly. "Who was that girl with him?" "It was Aggie Bemis." Mrs.
Captain Zelotes, who also had been looking at the watch, which was a very fine and very expensive one, smiled slightly. "Half-past nine some nights," he said, "is equal to half-past twelve others. This is one of the some. There, there, son, you're so sleepy this minute that you've got a list to starboard.
The mothers wept over their own children. Eva stood at her sister's elbow, with a hand on one of the child's, which was laid over Fanny's shoulder. Jim Tenny had his face hidden on his horse's neck. "Give her to me!" said Mrs. Zelotes again. "Give her to me, I say! I am her own grandmother!" "And I am her own mother!" called out Fanny, with a great master-note of love and triumph and defiance.
"Tell Aunty Wetherhed: that's a good girl," said the stout woman. "Where are those things she had when I first saw her?" asked Mrs. Zelotes, suddenly. Eva went into the sitting-room, and fetched them out the bunch of pinks, the cup and saucer, and the doll. Ellen's eyes gave a quick look of love and delight at the doll.
Her enthusiasm had continued all through this long speech. Albert whistled. "Whew!" he exclaimed. "Regular cheer for Zelotes, fellows! One two ! Grandfather's got one person to stand up for him, I'll say that. But why this sudden outbreak about him, anyhow? It was me you were talking about in the beginning though I didn't notice any loud calls for cheers in that direction," he added.
He departed, chuckling. Captain Zelotes looked after him. He tugged at his beard. "Al," he said, "do you know what I've about made up my mind to do?" Albert shook his head. "I've about made up my mind to take Labe Keeler into the firm of Z. Snow and Co. YOU won't come in, and," with a twinkle, "I need somebody to keep my name from gettin' lonesome on the sign." Albert was delighted.
"But, Zelotes, we haven't scarcely talked about it, you and I, at all. You might have waited till he came to Boston. Why do you go so SOON?" The captain's heavy brows drew together. "You went to the dentist's last Friday," he said. "Why didn't you wait till next week?" "Why why, what a question! My tooth ached and I wanted to have it fixed quick as possible." "Um-m, yes.
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