"And you might as well take Homer along with you," said Flora. "It's late for him to be out and he's got a long way to go." But Mr. Steeves didn't go. Melchior didn't urge him. He recovered the album from the floor without a word and glared at it in a lowering silence. Flora laughed, took Jim by the hand, and led him into the kitchen. Melchior followed them, donned his overcoat and hat and gloves, wished everybody a cheery good night and departed. Jim, standing awkwardly with his left hand still clasped by the girl's right hand, felt that there had been a peculiar significance in the smile which Melchior had bestowed upon him at the moment of closing the kitchen door. He looked at the girl, whose extraordinary eyes were already upon him. "I believe you are trying to make Mel jealous," he said, smiling uneasily. "Leggo the young man's hand an' git 'im his supper," said old Archie McKim. Flora laughed and released Jim's hand. Jim blushed and seated himself at the table. Flora fried bacon and potatoes and boiled coffee for Jim's belated supper. She spread the table with a white cloth for him and set out cream and strawberry jam and Washington pie. She placed the hot dishes before him, poured his coffee and then sat down opposite him with her elbows on the table and her vivid face and remarkable eyes shaded a little between her hands. Jim ate with a good appetite. In answer to a few questions, Jim told the girl about the Kettle Pond country and the trips in and out and the shooting of the moose. Homer Steeves appeared suddenly at Flora's elbow and scowled across the table at Jim. "I thought you had started for home long ago," said the girl. "I ain't gone yet," he replied sullenly. "Well, that's your name, and you'd better live up to it--Homer." "I know my name, an' I know other folks' names--but what I want to know is if I ain't got as much right 'round here as Mel Hammond." "Why, of course you have: he hasn't any." "Ain't he courtin' you, Flora?" "Nobody's courting me." "He comes here often enough, anyhow! What does he come for?" Jim looked up, frowning slightly. "Steeves, Flora is Mark Ducat's sister, and Mark is my friend and partner," he said. "You wouldn't bawl your ill-mannered questions at her if Mark were here, so don't do it now." "Maybe I would an' maybe I wouldn't, but you ain't Mark Ducat," retorted the other. "Mark could eat three like you an' I could eat two! If you don't believe me, come along outside!" "But Mark couldn't," said Flora. Jim smiled at her and shook his head very slightly. Then he stood up and said quietly, "If I do, Steeves, I'll have to carry you in again and put you to bed, and that will be an inconvenience to both of us and to Mrs. Ducat." "Talk don't scare me," sneered Homer. "He can have Mark's bed," said Flora reflectively. Mr. Steeves eyed her questioningly, uncertainly.