He put out his hand and touched hers
as it lay on the Major's chair, and when she turned to him she was smiling
brightly.
"Here's Cupid with our supper," she said, going to the table, "and dear
Aunt Rhody has actually gotten out her brandied peaches that she kept
behind her 'jists.' If you ever doubted your welcome, Dan, this must banish
it forever." Then as they gathered about the fruits of Aunt Rhody's
labours, she talked on rapidly in her cheerful voice. "The silver has just
been drawn up from the bottom of the well," she laughed, "so you mustn't
wonder if it looks a little tarnished. There wasn't a piece missing, which
is something to be thankful for already, and the port--how many bottles of
port did you dig up from the asparagus bed, Uncle Cupid?"
"I'se done hoed up 'mos' a dozen," answered Cupid, as he plied Dan with
waffles, "en dey ain' all un um up yit."
"Well, well, we'll have a bottle after supper," remarked the Major,
heartily.
"If there's anything that's been improved by this war it should be that
port, I reckon," said Mrs. Lightfoot, her muslin cap nodding over the high
old urns.
"And Dan's appetite," finished Betty, merrily.
When they rose from the table, the girl tied on her bonnet of plaited straw
and kissed Mrs. Lightfoot and the Major.
"It is almost mamma's supper time," she said, "and I must hurry back. Why,
I've been away from her at least two hours." Then she looked at Dan and
shook her head.
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