At that Ned colored and looked slightly vexed. "Papa, am I so very fat?" he asked. "None too fat to suit my taste, my son," replied the captain, smiling kindly on the little fellow. "And you wouldn't want to be a bag of bones, would you?" queried the voice. "No," returned Ned sturdily, "I'd a great deal rather be fat; bones are ugly things any way." "Good to cover up with fat, but very necessary underneath it," said the voice. "You couldn't stand or walk if you had no bones." "No; to be sure not; though I never thought about it before," returned Ned. "Some ugly things are worth more, after all, than some pretty ones." "Very true," said the voice; "so we must not despise anything merely because it lacks beauty." "Is it you talking, Cousin Ronald, or is it brother Max?" asked Ned, looking searchingly first at one and then at the other. "No matter which, laddie," said the old gentleman; "and who shall say it hasn't been both of us?" "Oh, yes, maybe it was! I couldn't tell," exclaimed Ned. But lunch was now ready and all repaired to the table. The blessing had been asked and all were sitting quietly as Dr. Percival took up a knife to carve a fowl. "Don't, oh, don't!" seemed to come from it in a terrified scream. "I'm all right. No need of a surgeon's knife." Everyone was startled for an instant, the doctor nearly dropping his knife; then there was a general laugh and the carving proceeded without further objection. The servants were all out of the room at the moment. "Ah, Cousin Ronald, that reminds me of very old times, when I was a little child," said Violet, giving the old gentleman a mirthful look. "Ah, yes!" he said, "I remember now that I was near depriving you of your share of the fowl when breakfasting one morning at your father's hospitable board. Have you not yet forgiven that act of indiscretion?" "Indeed, yes; fully and freely long ago. But it was really nothing to forgive--your intention having been to afford amusement to us all." "Neddie, shall I help you? are you willing to eat of a fowl that can scream out so much like a human creature?" asked Dr. Percival. "Oh, yes, Cousin Doctor; 'cause I know just how he did it," laughed the little boy. Then the talk about the table turned upon various matters connected with the subject of the approaching wedding--whether this or that relative would be likely to come; when he or she might be expected to arrive, and where be entertained; the adornment of the grounds for the occasion; the fashion in which each of the brides's new dresses should be made and what jewelry, if any, she should wear when dressed for the ceremony. Also about a maid of honor and bridesmaids.