“Yer Aunt Edith wud be thinking I’d nothing but drugget to wear,” groaned Judy. “Though she hadn’t got all the basting thrids out of her own dress, if ye noticed. It’s meself isn’t used to dog-fights in me kitchen”…with a malevolent glance at Tillytuck. “It’s minny a year since I saw one…the last was in South Glin church all av tin years ago. Oh, oh, that was a tommyshaw! Billy Gardiner always brought his dog to church. It was be way av being winked at for iverybody knew poor Billy was only half there, and they did be setting in a back pew, the dog behaving himself fine, though he did be giving a tarrible howl whin a lady visitor from town got up one day to sing a solo. Sure, nobody blamed the dog. But this day I’m telling ye av, another dog wandered in, the door being open, and Billy’s dog wint for him. The strange dog flew up the aisle wid Billy’s dog after him. He was caught jist under the pulpit! Oh, oh!” Judy rocked with laughter at the recollection, forgetful of her unworn splendors.

“What did they do, Judy?”

“Do, is it? Elder Jimmy Gardiner and Elder Tom Robinson aich grabbed a dog and carried it out be the scruff av the neck. Picture to yersilves, girls dear…a solemn ould elder wid a long beard and a most unchristian ixpression walking down the aisle, one on one side av the church and one on the other, houlding a dog at arm’s length.”

“Ah,” said Tillytuck, “I was in the church that day. I remember it well.”

This was too much for Judy. She got up and went into the pantry. Sid came out to say that Cousin Nicholas wished to go to bed and wanted a hot water bottle to take with him. Pat convoyed him to the spare room. Tillytuck, realizing that he was out of favor, went off to the granary.

Pat had just come down when there was a knock at the door. Who on earth could it be at this time of night? Cuddles opened it…and in out of the starless dripping night stepped Joe! Captain Joe, tall and bronzed and changed, after years of typhoons on China seas, but unmistakably Joe.

“Flew here,” said Joe laconically. “Flew from Halifax. Got into Charlottetown at dusk and hired a motor to bring me out. Thought I’d make it in time for supper anyhow. Everything happened to that car that could happen…and finally a broken axle. Nevertheless, here I am…and why are you all up as late and looking so solemn?”

Pat told him. Joe whistled.

“Not little Winnie! Why, I always think of her as a kid herself. What a night for the stork to fly! Anything in the pantry, Judy?”