“Hum! well, children, now you are all remarkably sensible boys and girls.  Remarkably sensible.  I’ve always said so, and I see no reason to change my opinion of you now.  And so, although at first my news may not be quite to your liking, why, you’ll quickly make it so, and be very happy about it in the end.  Hem! well, did you ever think that—­that your mother might possibly marry again?”

The last words were brought out so abruptly, that to the five pairs of ears strained to catch their import, it seemed as if the news had shot by harmlessly.  But after a breathing space the dreadful “marry,” and “your mother,” came back to them, bringing the several owners of the ears out of their chairs at one bound.

“Our mother!” Ben hoarsely exclaimed.

“Oh! how can you?” cried Polly passionately, a little white line showing around her mouth, “say such perfectly dreadful things, sir!”

Phronsie clasped her hands in silent terror, and raised big eyes to his face.  David began to walk helplessly down the apartment.  “See here!” said Joel, turning to the others, “wait a minute, and hold on.  Perhaps it’s you, sir,” whirling back to question, with piercing eyes, the old gentleman, “who’s going to marry our mother.  Then it’s all right!”

“Me!” roared the old gentleman.  “Oh! bless my soul, what should I want to marry for at my time of life?  Oh! my goodness me.”

His distress was now so frightful to see, that it brought the Peppers in a measure out of theirs; and they began at once to endeavor to soothe him.

“Don’t—­oh! don’t,” they cried, and a common trouble overwhelming them, they rushed around the table, seized his hands, and patted his shoulders and hair.  “Oh! this is very dreadful,” gasped Polly, “but don’t you feel badly, dear, dear Grandpapa.”

“I should think it was,” said Mr. King.  “Phronsie, here, child, get into my lap.  I’ll come to myself then.  There, now, that’s something like,” as Phronsie, with a low cry, hopped into her usual nest.  “Now perhaps I can communicate the rest of my news, when I get my breath.”

The Peppers held theirs, and he began once more.  “Now, children, it isn’t in the course of nature for such a fine bright woman as your mother to remain single the rest of her life; somebody would be sure to come and carry her off.  I’m glad it’s to be in my lifetime, for now I can be easy in my mind, and feel that you have a protector when I am gone.  There, there, we won’t talk about that,” as the young faces turned dark with sudden pain, while Joel rushed convulsively to the window, “you can see how I feel about it.”

“Are you glad?” cried Ben hoarsely.  Polly for her life could not speak.  The whole world seemed turning round, and sinking beneath her feet.

“Yes, I am,” said the old gentleman, “and it won’t alter the existing state of things, for he will live here with us, and things will be just the same, if only you children will take it rightly.  But I’ve no doubt you will in the end; no doubt at all,” he added, brightening up, “for you are very sensible young people.  I’ve always said so.”