I feel like a barrel squeezed into an umbrella
cover. This dress is long enough, land knows, but that's about all you
can say of it. However, I suppose we hadn't ought to--to look a gift
dress in the waistband."
Supper was ready in the dining-room and thither they were piloted by
Kenelm, whose hair, what there was of it, was elaborately "slicked
down," and whose celluloid collar had evidently received a scrubbing. In
the dining-room they found Captain Bangs awaiting them. Miss Parker made
her appearance bearing a steaming teapot. Hannah, now that they had an
opportunity to inspect her, was seen to be as tall and sharp-featured
as her brother was short and round. She was at least fifteen years older
than he, but she moved much more briskly. Also she treated Kenelm as
she might have treated a child, an only child who needed constant
suppression.
"Please to be seated, everybody," she said. "Cap'n Obed, you take your
reg'lar place. Mrs. Barnes, if you'll be so kind as to set here, and
Miss Howes next to you. Kenelm, you set side of me. Set down, don't
stand there fidgetin'. WHAT did you put on that necktie for? I told you
to put on the red one."
Kenelm fingered his tie. "I--I cal'late I must have forgot, Hannah," he
stammered. "I never noticed. This one's all right, ain't it?"
"All right! It'll have to be. You can't change it now. But, for goodness
sakes, look out it stays on. The elastic's all worn loose and it's
li'ble to drop into your tea or anywheres else.
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