“Ineversaidchildren。WhatIsaidwaswhenshewasoldandhadgrandchildren。“
“Grandchildren！Well，that’sadumsightMOREprevious。Let’shavebreakfast，allhands，forthelandsakes！Isaiah’llhaveuscruisin’alongwiththethirdandfourthgenerationinafewminutes。I’Msatisfiedwiththisone！“
Thatevening，atbedtime，asthepartnersseparatedintheupperhalltogototheirrespectiverooms，Zoethsaid：
“Shadrach，thishasbeenamightyniceChristmasforusall，ain’tit？“
CaptainShadnoddedemphatically。“Youbet！“hedeclared。“Don’tseemtomeIeverrememberanicerone。“