let. In an angle by the
fireplace was a three-cornered cupboard, and between the front windows
stood a chest of drawers with glass knobs. On the chest lay a big
Bible, a hymn-book, and several more well-thumbed volumes. A large deal
table with hinged leaves, a rude stand covered with a towel, several
rush-bottomed chairs, and the rocker constituted the chief items of
furniture. On the tall mantel, beside a loud-ticking clock, shone
several brass candlesticks, flanked by a china vase, a turkey wing, and
a pile of papers. Suspended from a row of pegs near the bed were
various garments, and over the back doorway a pair of buck horns
supported a rifle, near which hung a powder-horn.

Presently a heavy step was heard on the loose boards of a back porch.
"Lucy," called a loud voice from without, "fotch some hot watah and the
noggin o' soap. Lucindy, find me a towel." Further commands were lost
in a loud splashing and spluttering; and in a few minutes Mason Rogers,
red-faced, red-haired, and huge of frame, entered the room, pulling
down the sleeves of his coarse shirt as he came.

"Howdy? howdy? Glad to see you, suh," he exclaimed, extending his hand.
"My wife says you're a schoolmarster; and you air ez welcome ez rain to
a parched cawnfield. Whar'd you say you hailed frum?" He seated himself
as he spoke, tilting his chair against the mantel.

"From Virginia, sir."

"From Virginny! Then you're twict ez welcome. I wuz borned an' raised
in the old State myse'f; and I'll allus hev a sneakin' fondness fur
her, though she wouldn't loose her holt on us ez soon ez she oughter,
an' she hain't treated us egzactly fair 'bout thet Transylvany College
bus'ness, nuther."

"Oh," Dudley said pleasantly, "Virginia's the mother State, you know,
and Kentucky a favorite child whom she grieved to have leave the
parental roof."

"Well, hev it your own way, suh," answered Rogers, genially, drawing
from the pocket of his butternut jeans trousers a twist of tobacco and
helping himself to a generous chew. "'Pears to me, though, she acted
more lak a stepmother--couldn't manidge us herse'f, but wuz jealous uv
us settin' up fur ourse'ves. Still, that's all past an' gone. We got
our freedom ez soon ez it wuz good fur us, I reckon; so I shan't hold
no gredge agin her--'spesh'ly ez it won't mek a mite o' diffruns to her
ef I do. Whut part o' Virginny air you frum, suh?"

"Culpeper County, near----"

"Culpeper County!" ejaculated Rogers, bringing h