As Winslow and Mr.Bearse were occupying the only two chairs in the room he accepted the invitation in its broad sense and, turning an empty box upon end, sat down on that.
"So Gabe was talkin', eh ?" he repeated.

"Well, that's singular.
How'd that happen, Gabe ?" Mr.Bearse looked rather foolish.

"Oh, we was just--just talkin' about--er--this and that," he said, hastily.

"Just this and that, nothin' partic'lar.

Cal'late I'll have to be runnin' along now, Jed." Jed Winslow selected a new and unpainted sailor from the pile near him.