The dear boy is quite overcome." Captain Elisha stepped forward.
"Excuse me for interruptin', ma'am," he said, addressing the ruffled matron; "but I know you're sort of surprised to see us all here and maybe I'd better explain.

Mr.Sylvester told me you and your son had an appointment with him for this afternoon.

Now there was something we--or I, anyhow--wanted to talk with you about, so I thought we might as well make one job of it.

Sylvester's a pretty busy man, and I know he has other things to attend to; so why not let him go ahead and tell you what you come to hear, and then we can take up the other part by ourselves.
He's told me what you wanted to see him about, and it's somethin' we're all interested in, bein' as we're one family--or goin' to be pretty soon.

So suppose he just tells you now.