s turn to-night, same as usual; an'
I can set with ye this evenin'. The government is powerful generous,
Susan Jane, t' give this every other night shift."

"Generous, umph! There, David, do get the meal. I guess if you had laid
awake all night, you'd have considerable cravin' in yer stomach fur
victuals. I've a real sinkin'."

"Sho! I must get a double wriggle on, Susan Jane." David stumbled over a
stool on his way to the stove; he was dizzy from sleepiness, and he,
too, had a sensation of sinking.

"Sho! I be gettin' monstrous awkward!" he muttered apologetically; "I
hope I ain't waked Janet!"

"S'pose you had!" snapped his wife; "you think that more important than
my nerves? I don't more'n half like Janet comin' here. If it hadn't been
fur me, I know you'd taken her fur nothin'! No matter if I do have t' go
t' the poorhouse on account of yer shiftlessness. I, stricken an'
helpless! She can come here fur nothin'! I jest know, David, that it
would be a real release fur a great, strong man like you to be rid of a
poor stricken wife; but I guess you'll have to bide the Lord's will
whether you want t' or no!"

At this point David spilled a kettle of water he was bearing from the
pump, outside the door, to the range.

"By gum! Susan Jane," he said cheerily, "I guess no one but you could
put up with a blunderin' old feller like me. Ye better reconsider an'
stay t' see the game out. Two eggs, this mornin', wife, or one?"

"Two, David! You didn't think t' scrimp _me_, did you? If one egg has
got t' be given, you'd better begin on yourself, or Janet!"

"Come, come, Susan Jane; there is two apiece, an' six fur company!"

"Company! David, have you had the heartlessness t' invite company here
without askin' me?"

"Lord! Susan Jane, can't ye take a joke? I only meant eggs is plenty.
The draught's good this mornin'; that's a sign of clear weather. The
biscuits is riz fit t' kill, Susan, I never had better luck. That comes
of havin' a handy wife t' train ye."

"I'm glad you can see some good in me, David!" Susan Jane was sniffling.
"I think Janet is downright lazy an' triflin'. Lyin' in bed when a
struck woman like me can have ambition enough to be up an' doin'."

"You're one in a hundred, Susan Jane, but then it ain't more'n fair t'
state that Janet's a boarder, 'cordin' t' yer own placin'."

"Oh! that's right. Blame me fur miserliness, an' excuse her fur
slackness! She's perfict: I'm the sinner!"

"Now, Susan Jane