Mr. So-and-so, while we can't justify the names, nor the
invitation, we can't wonder at the givers."

"Why--I can. I think they're pretty tol'able wonderful. But so's he--to
let 'em do it. Now, this ain't the question, either, but--why does he
allow it? It ain't for lack of pluck, senator. I know a coward's
earmarks and he ain't got 'em. It ain't for religion; less'n two hours
out of Orleans he'd offered them twins, I'm told, to take 'em down to
the freight deck and dish up the brace of 'em at one fell scoop. And no
more is it because his people won't let him alone to do his own way.
He's about the let-alone-dest fellow I ever see, for his age, if he is
any particular age. No, sir, I've studied out what it's for."

"Hmm. But what's your question? What's _it_ about?"

"Why, it's about this--and your friend the general. For I'll tell you,
senator, why Mr. Hugh don't fight. It's for--can I tell you in
confidence, strict, air-tight?"

"Certainly, strict, air-tight."

"Well, then, it's for love. He's in love with their sister. Now,
_that's_ something I _don't_ wonder at. I am, too. So are a lot of us."
He smiled at the cub, who frowned away. "Now, by natural fitness, he's
got ground for hope. I ain't got a square inch. She ain't on my claim.
Next week my face'll be to the setting sun. So what do I do but go to
him--this was before her young brother died--which I almost loved the
brother too--and s'I, 'Mr. Courteney, I've saw the sun go down and moon
come up on this thing three times running, and every time and all
between I've stood it, seeing you stand it. And I've studied it. And I
see your fix. But most of us don't; so somebody's got to indorse you.
Now, being a Kentuckian, not blue-grass but next door, I feel like doing
it. You've _got_ to play two hands and you _can't_ play but one. Well,
I'll play the one you can't. I'll fight them twins.'"

"Well, of all--and he accepted?"

"Now, you know he didn't. He said it would be absolutely impossible. But
he said it the funniest way--! It made me see the size of him for the
first time. And, senator, he's life-size. But I reckon you knowed that
before I did. He took me by the button-hole, just as I'm holding you
now, and talked to me as majestic as a father sending his boy off to
school, and at the very same time and in the very same words as sweet as
a girl sending her soldier to war."

"And he convinced you?"

"No, we was interrupted and couldn't talk it out. Well,