Some of the younger ones, who had particularly enjoyed the skating, felt a good deal disappointed that the storm had come to put a stop to it, and were in consequence quite sober and subdued in their demeanor as they took their seats at the table.

A moment of complete silence followed the asking of the blessing, then, as Edward took up a carving-knife, and stuck the fork into a roast duck in front of him, there was a loud “Quack, quack,” that startled everybody for an instant, followed by merry peals of laughter from old and young.

A loud squeal came next from a young pig in a dish placed before Mr. Dinsmore, and the song of the blackbird from a pie Grandma Elsie was beginning to help.

“‘Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie,’” remarked Mr. Lilburn gravely.

“’When the pie was opened the birds began to sing, Wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before a king?’

“Ah ha! um h’m! ah ha! history repeats itself.  But, Cousin Elsie, I didna expect to be treated to a meal o’ livin’ creatures in your house.”

“Did you not?” she returned with a smile.  “Life is full of surprises.”

“And grandpa and Ned go on carving without any apparent thought of the cruelty of cutting into living creatures,” laughed Zoe.

“And what a singular circumstance that chickens baked in a pie should sing like blackbirds,” remarked Grandma Elsie.

“Very indeed!” said Capt.  Raymond.  “I move that some one prepare an article on the subject for one of the leading magazines.”

“No one better qualified for the task than yourself, sir,” said his brother-in-law, Mr. Lester Leland.

“You will surely except our Cousin Ronald,” said the captain; “doubtless he knows more about the phenomenon than any other person present.”

“O Cousin Ronald,” broke in Walter, “as we can’t go skating this afternoon, won’t you please tell us young ones some of your famous stories?”

“Perhaps, laddie; but there may be some other amusement provided, and in that case the tales will keep.  It strikes me I heard some o’ the leddies laying plans for the afternoon and evening?” he added, turning inquiringly in Zoe’s direction.

“Yes, sir,” she said, “we are getting up some tableaux, but are ready to defer them if any one wishes to do something else.”

“I think we will not tax Cousin Ronald with story telling to-day,” said Grandma Elsie:  “he has been making a good deal of exertion in skating, and I know must feel weary.”

“Are you, Cousin Ronald?” asked Walter.

“Well, laddie, I can no deny that there have been times when I’ve felt a bit brighter and more in the mood for spinning out a yarn, as the sailors say.”

“And perhaps you’d like to see the tableaux too, sir?”

“Yes, I own that I should.”

That settled the question.  “We will have the tableaux,” Grandma Elsie said, and every body seemed well satisfied with the decision.