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I'dbeen telling him that I'd shot ducks, too."

  "'I'm _so_ sorry, Jim.'"]

  His sister caught him around the neck and kissed his blonde head. "I'm_so_ sorry, Jim. He won't think of it again. If he does, he'll onlyrespect a boy who is so good to his sister. And," she added,cautioning him with lifted finger, "don't talk too much to him, Jim, nomatter how nice and kind he is. I know how lonely you are and howpleasant it is to talk to a man like Mr. Marche; but remember thatfather doesn't wish us to say anything about ourselves or about him, sowe must be careful."

  "Why doesn't father want us to speak about him or ourselves to Mr.Marche?" asked the boy.

  His sister had gone back to her dishes. Now, looking around over hershoulder, she said seriously, "That is father's affair, dear, not ours."

  "But don't you know why?"

  "Shame on you, Jim! What father cares to tell us he will tell us; butit's exceedingly bad manners to ask."

  "Is father really very ill?"

  "I told you that to ask me such things is improper," said the girl,coloring. "He has told us that he does not feel well, and that heprefers to remain in his room for a few days. That is enough for us,isn't it?"

  "Yes," said the boy thoughtfully.