come to The Oaks, Robert, of course. Sarah Ann will expect you very soon, and you mustn't stand on ceremony, you know, but come as often as you can while you stay at Shirley."
"What do you think of Cousin Edwin, Bob?" asked Billy when the guests had gone.
"That he is a very excellent person, and——"
"And what? Speak out. Let's hear what you think."
"Well, that he is a very dutiful husband."
"Bob, I'd give a pretty for your knack at saying things. Your tongue's as soft as a feather bed. But wait till you know the madam. You'll say——"
"My son, you shouldn't prejudice Robert against people he doesn't know. Sarah Ann has many good qualities—I suppose."
"Well, then, I don't suppose anything of the sort, else she would have found out how good a man Cousin Edwin is long ago, and would have behaved herself better every way."
"William, you are uncharitable!"
"Not a bit of it, mother. Your charity is like a microscope when it is hunting for something good to say of people. Did you ever hear of the dead Dutchman?"
"Do pray, Billy, don't tell me any of your anecdotes now."
"Just this one, mother. There was a dead Dutchman who had been the worst Dutchman in the business. When the people came to sit up with his corpse—don't run, mother, I'm nearly through—they couldn't find anything good to say about him, and as they didn't want to say anything bad there was a profound silence in the room. Finally one old Dutchman, heaving a sigh, remarked: 'Vell, Hans vas vone goot schmoker, anyhow.' Let me see. Cousin Sarah Ann gives good dinners, anyhow, only she piles too much on the table. See how charitable I am, mother. I have actually found and designated the madam's one good point."
"Come, come, my son," said the colonel, "you shouldn't talk so."
Shortly after tea the two young men pleaded the weariness of travelers in excuse for an early bed going. Mr. Bob was offered his choice between occupying alone the Blue Room, which is the state guest chamber in most Virginian houses, and taking a bed in Billy's room. He promptly chose the latter, and when they were alone, he turned to his cousin and asked:
"Billy, have you such a thing as a dictionary about?"
"Nothing but a law dictionary, I believe. Will that do?"
"Really I do not know. Perhaps it might."
"What do you want to find?" asked Billy.
"I only wish to ascertain whether or not we arrived here in time for 'snack.' You said we would, I believe."
"Well, we did, didn't we?"
"That is precisely what I wish to find out. Having never heard of 'snack' until you mentioned it as one of the things we should find at Shirley, I have been curious to know what it is like, and so I have been watching for it ever since we got here. Pray tell me what it is?"
"Well, that's a good one. I must tell Sudie that, and get her to introduce you formally to-morrow."
"It is another interesting custom of the country, I suppose."
"Indeed it is; and it isn't one of those customs that are 'more honored in the breach than the observance,' either."
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