Grant tried his latch-key, but it would not serve.

He rang the bell, but there came no answer.

Then there came a tapping and clatter from inside a window, and both of us left the porch to get down upon the sward and visit the window and investigate.
Inside the window, and smiling, was a small, brown woman, holding in her arms a crowing youngster, who was making a great ado and reaching out his hands toward his father.

She raised the window just a little, and put a question, gravely: "What is it that you wish, gentlemen ?" Grant intimated, humbly, that we wanted to get in and be given some dinner.
"Are you the gentlemen who were going to carry the Ninth Ward ?" "Yes." "Did you carry it ?" "No." The laughing face fell a little, but the stately air was recovered in a moment.

"Well," she said, with dignity, "I'm very sorry.