"
"You are unfair to yourself, when you say that," remarked Alice
earnestly. "Your voice has never jarred upon my ears, and I have always
been pleased to listen to you."
Whether Quincy's voice would have grown softer and sweeter and his words
more impassioned if the interview had continued, cannot be divined, for
Mrs. Maxwell at that moment opened the parlor door and called out,
"Dinner's ready," just as Mandy Skinner used to do in the days gone by.
Miss Very was introduced to Alice and the others at the dinner table,
and took the seat formerly occupied by 'Zekiel. Quincy consented to
remain to dinner, as he knew his services would be required in the proof
reading. When Cobb's twins reached the barn, after dinner, Jim said to
Bill, "Isn't she a stunner! I couldn't keep my eyes off'n her."
"Neither could I," rejoined Bill. "I tell yer, Jim, style comes nat'ral
to city folks. I'll be durned if I know whether I had chicken or codfish
for dinner."
After the noonday meal the three zealous toilers in the paths of
literature began work. Quincy read from the manuscript, Rosa held the
proofs, while Alice listened intently, and from time to time made
changes in punctuation or slight alterations in the language.
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