Thad felt sure this must be in the mind of Matilda, for she was one of those persons whose first thought is always of some one beside themselves.
Philip having exhausted his schedule hastened to betake himself off before he said too much; because he was a wise boy for his years, Jim allowed.

And Matilda went back into the house, glancing at the paper as she vanished from view.
"Now let's hope that hammock there will tempt Brother Lu to saunter forth and take things easy while he looks over the paper," said Jim, with just a touch of eagerness discernible in his well-controlled voice; for he prided himself on always "keeping cool" under the most trying conditions.
They did not have long to wait.

Why, it seemed to Thad that the wonderful Jim must have some peculiar power, as of suggestion, with which he could influence other minds; for as they peeped through openings in the bushes, lo! and behold, out of the cottage door came the object of Thad's especial aversion.

Yes, it was the hobo whom they had first met when he was cooking his meal in regular tramp fashion by using discarded tomato cans for receptacles to hold coffee and stew.

But Brother Lu was a transformed tramp.
He wore the Sunday clothes of Brother-in-law Andrew, and his face was actually as smooth as a razor could make it.