Awful murder ! Bank clerk absconded ! Powder-mill explosion , and great strike of the Latin School boys ! ' roared Ted , going to meet his cousin with the graceful gait of a young giraffe . ` The Commodore is in , and will cut his cable and run before the wind as soon as he can get off , ' called Demi , with ' a nice derangement of nautical epitaphs ' , as he came up smiling over his good news . Everyone talked together for a moment , and the paper passed from hand to hand that each eye might rest on the pleasant fact that the Brenda , from Hamburg , was safe in port . ` He 'll come lurching out by tomorrow with his usual collection of marine monsters and lively yarns . I saw him , jolly and tarry and brown as a coffee-berry . Had a good run , and hopes to be second mate , as the other chap is laid up with a broken leg , ' added Demi . ` Wish I had the setting of it , ' said Nan to herself , with a professional twist of her hand . ` How 's Franz ? ' asked Mrs Jo . ` He 's going to be married ! There 's news for you . The first of the flock , Aunty , so say good-bye to him . Her name is Ludmilla Heldegard Blumenthal ; good family , well-off , pretty , and of course an angel . The dear old boy wants Uncle 's consent , and then he will settle down to be a happy and an honest burgher . Long life to him ! ' ` I 'm glad to hear it . I do so like to settle my boys with a good wife and a nice little home .
Now , if all is right , I shall feel as if Franz was off my mind , ' said Mrs XXXXX , folding her hands contentedly ; for she often felt like a distracted hen with a large brood of mixed chickens and ducks upon her hands .
Aunty Blumenthal Jo Nan Ted coffee-berry epitaphs first giraffe second