Ruthgraspedhismeaninglaterwhenshetastedthepuddingand，founditflavoredwithNewEnglandrum。
Afterdinnertheyadjournedtotheparlor。Maud，beingcoaxedby，heradoringfather，playedthepiano。Thenshesang。Thenthey，allsang，allexceptJedandthecaptain，thatis。Thelatter，declaredthathisvoicehadmildewedinthedampweathertheyhad，beenhavinglately，andJedexcusedhimselfonthegroundthathe，hadbeenwarnednottosingbecauseitwasnothealthy。
Barbarawassurprisedandshocked。
“Why，UncleJed！”shecried。”YousingEVERsomuch。Iheardyou，singingthismorning。”
Jednodded。”Ye-es，“hedrawled，“butIwasalonethenandI’m，liabletotakechanceswithmyownhealth。BlueyBatcheldorwasin，theshoplastweek，though，whenIwastunin’upanditdisagreed，withHIM。”