James reëntered the kitchen, followed by Amos, half scuffling as they made for their seats, and the younger Williams children streamed along after them.
"Softly, boys, softly!" exclaimed Master Williams. He glanced at them leniently, however, and as he passed the platter of waffles to them, his glance met that of his wife. "I mind me when the boys were little—always scuffling they were, then, too!" he remarked. "Do ye remember, Mary?"
"Aye, Nathaniel, I—remember!" she answered, with a half catch in her breath. Sally, looking at her obliquely just then, wondered if she imagined the tears she thought she saw in the mother's eyes, then concluded that she had, as Mistress Williams turned with some playful question to Amos.
Zenas looked resentfully at the pile of waffles James dumped from the platter on to his pewter plate. "I cannot see how ye would be hungry, i' sooth, James!" he observed pointedly. "Those gorged wi' chicken should want naught else!"
James merely grinned at him maliciously and reached for the syrup pitcher. Mistress Williams, observing that the waffle platter was empty, started to rise from the table, although her own plate was untouched as yet; but Sally forestalled her.
"Nay!" exclaimed the girl, "let me bake more waffles! See—e'en now have I finished. And ye
