"Whoop! He'd carve 'em deep!" cried Keppel.

At this moment Mrs. Cavendish appeared, bringing Yancy's
breakfast. In her wake came Connie with the baby, and the three
little brothers who were to be accorded the cherished privilege
of seeing the poor gentleman eat.

"You got a nice little family, ma'am," said Yancy.

"Well, I reckon nobody complains mo' about their children than
me, but I reckon nobody gets mo' comfort out of their children
either. I hope you-all are a-goin' to be able to eat, you ain't
had much nourishment. La, does yo' shoulder pain you like that?
Want I should feed you?"

"I am sorry, ma'am, but I reckon you'll have to," Yancy spoke
regretfully. "I expect I been a passel of bother to you."

"No, you ain't. Here's Dick to see how you make out with the
chicken," Polly added, as Cavendish presented himself at the
opening that did duty as a door.

"This looks like bein' alive, stranger," he commented genially.
He surveyed the group of which Yancy was the center. "If them
children gets too numerous, just throw 'em out."

"You-all ain't told me yo' name yet?" said Yancy.

"It's Cavendish. Richard Keppel Cavendish, to get it all off my
mind at a mouthful. And this lady's Mrs. Cavendish."