“Why, good morning, Eddie,” the dear woman exclaimed as I stepped up beside her and planted a fond, filial osculation upon her cheek. “I was just about to knock on your door. I am so pleased that you have finally managed to sleep until a decent hour.”

“And what precisely is the hour?” I inquired as I seated myself at the table, unfolded my napkin, and tucked it into the collar of my shirt.

“Nearly eight-thirty,” she replied, lowering herself into the chair beside me.

This intelligence produced a tremor of alarm which—like the electrical shock from a galvanic battery—coursed through every fibre of my being. The day was even more advanced than I had realized! Snatching up a slice of toast, I spooned a dollop of syrup upon its surface, hastily bit off a mouthful, and washed it down with a great, gulping swallow of the steaming beverage.

“Oh, Eddie,” clucked Muddy as she regarded me with a look of intense maternal solicitude. “Do not wolf your food down so, or you will give yourself a terrible case of dyspepsia. You know how sensitive your stomach is.”

“To savor the pleasures of my morning repast is—alas!—a luxury I cannot afford, for I am anticipating the imminent—if not momentary—arrival of Colonel Crockett.”

“Oh?” said Muddy with an inquiring look.

Though I had apprised both my aunt and cousin of the previous day’s dire occurrences, I had somewhat concealed from them (as I have already indicated) the full extent of my own involvement, for fear of causing them undue anxiety on my behalf. The same motive now impelled me to persist in my course of dissimulation. I casually explained that I had agreed to serve as a kind of guide for Colonel Crockett, who had expressed an interest in viewing some of the famously picturesque sights of the Maryland countryside.

“Why, that sounds very pleasant, Eddie,” she replied. “I take it, then, that you have patched things up with Colonel Crockett.”

“We have indeed achieved, if not a lasting reconciliation, then at least a temporary rapprochement.”

“I am delighted to hear it,” she said, smiling broadly.

“In any event, dearest Muddy,” I continued, “you should not expect me home until quite late. Indeed, my arrival may well be delayed until well past the witching hour, so please do not feel obliged to remain awake until my return.”

At that instant, a sharp rapping upon the front door of our domicile announced my companion’s arrival.

“Finish your tea, dear,” said Muddy, rising from her place, “I will go answer.”