CHAPTER VIII
A BATTLE
“YouR coffee must be stone cold by this time, dear,” Alice Bagsbury observed in a tone of mild remonstrance; “shan’t I pour you another cup ? “
“ What’s that ? “ John asked absently, from behind his morning paper. “ Oh, yes, if you please.” He took up the cup, but instead of handing it to her, he drank off the dismal bev- erage, and replacing the cup in its saucer turned back to his paper, apparently under the impression that he had followed her sug- gestion.
“ Do you know,” said d**k, “ I think it’s dangerous to be as absent-minded as that. If that had been kerosene, you’d have drunk it just the same all of it.”
John dropped the paper beside his chair, stared at his plate a moment, and then turned to d**k.
“ Did either of you say anything to me just now ? I thi
