"My name's Yancy--Bob Yancy."

Mr. Cavendish exchanged glances with Mrs. Cavendish. By a nod
of her dimpled chin the lady seemed to urge some more extended
confidence on his part. Chills and Fever seated himself at the
foot of Yancy's bed.

"Stranger, what I'm a-goin' to tell you, you'll take as bein'
said man to man," he began, with the impressive air of one who
had a secret of great moment to impart; and Yancy hastened to
assure him that whatever passed between them, his lips should be
sealed. "It ain't really that, but I don't wish to appear proud
afo' no man's, eyes. First, I want to ask you, did you ever hear
tell of titles?"

Polly and the children hung breathlessly on Mr. Yancy's reply.

"I certainly have," he rejoined promptly. "Back in No'th
Carolina we went by the chimneys."

"Chimneys? What's chimneys got to do with titles, Mr. Yancy?"
asked Polly, while her husband appeared profoundly mystified.

"A whole lot, ma'am. If a man had two chimneys to his house we
always called him Colonel, if there was four chimneys we called
him General."

"La!" cried Polly, smiling and showing a number of new dimples.
"Dick don't mean militia titles, Mr. Yancy."