“Over to England they is them Lards an’ Jukes, what ain’t allowed in them States, but I mistrusts them Jelliffes is what takes the place o’ they in Ameriky.”

“I dunno,” doubted another, “th’ gentleman he be kinder civerlized fer a juke.  Them goes about wid little crowns on the head o’ they, I seen a pictur of one, onst.  But Lards is all right.  Pete McPhay he saw one, deer huntin’, two years ago, an’ said he’d talk pleasant to anybody, like Mr. Jelliffe.  That’s why I thinks he’s more like a Lard nor a Juke.”

This conclusion seemed to meet with general approval, and the men went on.

Dr. Grant came over to us fairly early this morning, and joined us on the little porch.

“Good morning,” he said.  “You must be glad that the term of your imprisonment is drawing to a close, Mr. Jelliffe.  You will soon be on your way home.  As a matter of fact there is nothing to prevent your leaving in a few days.  We could easily put you in your berth on board, well braced up, and in four or five days the Snowbird would be at anchor off the New York Yacht Club float.”

“I am suffering from the deteriorating influence of prolonged idleness, Doctor,” said Daddy.  “I have become thoroughly lazy now, and don’t care to start until I can hop on board without assistance, and walk the deck as much as I want.  This daughter of mine has developed an uncanny attachment to the place; she sometimes tries to look sorry for me, but she is having the one grand time of her childhood.”

I protested, naturally, but he paid no attention and went on.

“Now that I can sit on this porch I get any amount of company.  I know every one in the place and feel that I am acquiring the local accent through my prolonged conversations with the natives.  I am utterly incapable of thinking of desirable parcels of real estate, and bonds leave me indifferent.  I reckon in codfish now, like the rest of the population.  I caught myself wondering, yesterday, how many quintals the Flatiron Building was worth.”

“I am sure you must miss your daily paper,” said the doctor.

“A short time ago that was one of the flies in my ointment; but now I am at peace.  Why remind me of it?”

Daddy delights in chess with the parson and long talks with the doctor.  I can see that he has become really very fond of him.  Mr. Barnett is much more frequently with him, and they have tremendous battles during which it looks as if the fate of empires depended on the next move, but when the doctor comes Daddy looks ever so pleased and his voice rings out with welcome.

I announced that I was going over to old Granny Lasher, who would get me out of trouble with that heel I was puzzling over.

“Just look at her, Doctor,” said Daddy.  “Did you ever see such rosy cheeks?  This has done her a lot of good; of course she has always been a strong girl, but there is something here that has golf and motoring beaten to a standstill.  She is becoming horribly proud of getting those salmon.  I will have to take down her pride, some day, and show her what an old fellow like me can do.  I am ever so much obliged to you for taking such good care of her.”