“One portion used to be enough for two.” “Fiddlesticks! I’ll be right here to welcome you back. And when you do get back you’ll be able to buy a new Sempronia.” “That’s the only reason why I would consider it for a moment.” “My son, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Fancy going a thousand miles and lecturing for a cow!” “Well, child, I may prove weak enough to try it. But I won’t stir a step without you to take care of me. Read the other one.” “It is from a place called Eglantine.” “Is Susan dead?” “There’s nothing in it about anybody named Susan. It is signed by some woman named Kate.” “Then the place has gone out of the family. Susan Endicott is the person who gave your mother her blue-edged china.” Jean was listening with one ear, but her eyes were snapping. “After you have given two lectures at New Haven, you are going to a town called Wickford and talk to girls about Roman ladies! Goodness gracious peter me, and all I have that’s fit to wear is a blouse.” “My child, there is no reason why you should not have a new dress. You have two double-eagles that came from Susan Endicott. You inherited one from your brother and one was sent to you as you lay in your cradle. Susan may be dead. But if she isn’t, and if you will call on her in Wickford, I’ll take you east.” “Of course I’ll call on her. What is her married name?” “Susan Endicott Hogg, a widow.” Chapter 63. Europium The Wickford lecture was over, and Kate Coggeshall was shaking the lecturer’s hand. A girl turned to her neighbor. “Did you ever see such beautiful hair?” “I wasn’t thinking about it. I want to bring up two little Gracchi.” But after the bright bevy had clustered around him, an older woman approached. Her severe little bonnet was black above hair almost as snowy as his, and the girls made way for her. “Do you remember me, Mr. Rich?” “I’ve been glancing at you from time to time, Susan. I hope that my weak words have been blessed to you in your very becoming old age.” “Ambrose, Kate is going to bring you to dinner immediately. But where is Winifred’s girl?” Jean emerged from the bevy, dropped a curtsy, and rose still holding the edges of her organdie. “Do you like it, Mrs. Hogg?” “Very much, my dear.” “I wouldn’t sell this dress for a million dollars, because your loving gift to my big brother is in it. I’m the only one left, Aunt Susan. Please try to like me.” Thus presently it came to pass that when Kate Coggeshall’s surrey once more made its way up through the apple orchard, it bore Mainutung and Naynokahsee. The dining room was just the same, all cool with the gleam of old silver, and rich with bichromate of potash rubbed into mahogany. The dinner began with due gravity, but presently Jean began to bubble. “Oh, my aunt Susan, I love your fish chowder. This is the very first salt-water fish I ever did eat.” “Don’t you ever make chowder?” “Yes, whenever we have a big black bass.”