I waved my hand towards the unoccupied wing chair and he sat down. Two glasses, one empty and the other half full of a steaming mixture, were on the little table beside us. “Help yourself, Jim,” I said, indicating the glasses. He took up the one containing the mixture and regarded it hopefully. “What?” he asked. “A Cahoon toddy,” said I. “Warranted to keep off chills, rheumatism, lumbago and kindred miseries. Good for what ails you. Don't wait; I've had mine.” He took a sniff and then a very small sip. His face expressed genuine emotion. “Whew!” he gasped, choking. “What in blazes--?” “Jamaica ginger, sugar and hot water,” I explained blandly. “It won't hurt you--longer than five minutes. It is Hephzy's invariable prescription.” “Good Lord! Did you drink yours?” “No--I never do, unless she watches me.” “But your glass is empty. What did you do with it?” “Emptied it behind the back log. Of course, if you prefer to drink it--” “Drink it!” His “toddy” splashed the back log, causing a tremendous sizzle. Before he could relieve his mind further, Hephzy appeared to announce that dinner was ready if we were. We were, most emphatically, so we went into the dining-room. Hephzy and Jim did most of the talking during the meal. I had talked more that forenoon than I had for a week--I am not a chatty person, ordinarily, which, in part, explains my nickname--and I was very willing to eat and listen. Hephzy, who was garbed in her best gown--best weekday gown, that is; she kept her black silk for Sundays--talked a good deal, mostly about dreams and presentiments. Susanna Wixon, Tobias Wixon's oldest daughter, waited on table, when she happened to think of it, and listened when she did not. Susanna had been hired to do the waiting and the dish-washing during Campbell's brief visit. It was I who hired her. If I had had my way she would have been a permanent fixture in the household, but Hephzy scoffed at the idea. “Pity if I can't do housework for two folks,” she declared. “I don't care if you can afford it. Keepin' hired help in a family no bigger than this, is a sinful extravagance.” As Susanna's services had been already engaged for the weekend she could not discharge her, but she insisted on doing all the cooking herself.