watch
out for one another. Somebody'll be caught nappin', sure. 'Tisn't in
human natur' to walk upright all the time, and it's foolish to expect
it. But--shouldn't wonder if I'd be the next one accused. And it
comin' Christmas time too. Land! I'm so bestead I've sewed that patch
in wrong side up. What? Hey? You laughin'? I don't see anything funny
in this business, myself," said the old lady, fretfully.

"You would if you could look in a glass! Your face is all streaked
purple and green, where you cried on your patch," explained Jessica,
whose grief had changed to amusement.

"You don't say! I knew them colors'd run. John fetched the piece from
Marion, last time he went for the mail. Of the two stores there, I
don't know which is the worst. Their 'Merrimac' won't wash, and their
flannel shrinks, and their thread breaks every needleful. But, to
'Boston'--dear me! Whatever did make me think of that place! Now I've
thought, it'll stick in my mind till it drives me wild--or back there,
and that's about the same thing. To go live with that slimsy cousin of
mine, after being in the same house with your mother, is like falling
off a roof into a squashy mud puddle. That's all the sense and
substance there is to Sarah, that was a Harrison before she was a
Ma'sh. I warrant she's clean out of medicine an money, for she's a
regular squanderer when it comes to makin' rag rugs. I wish you could
see 'em! I just wish't you could. Such dogs and cats as she weaves
into 'em would have druv' Noah plumb crazy if he had to take 'em into
the Ark. Their eyes are just round rings of white, with another round
ring of black in the middle----"

"Aren't rings always round, auntie, dear?"

"No, they ain't. Not after they've been trod on!" was the swift
retort, as the old lady pointed downwards toward the floor of the
porch.

Both stooped and rose again, astonishment deepening upon their faces
as Jessica held out her open palm with the injured trinket lying upon
it.

"Elsa Winkler's wedding ring! How came it here?"

"How indeed? I don't believe that woman's been on these premises since
I came."

"Even if she had, Aunt Sally, why should she bring the ring with her?
It was always too small for her, and she never had it on except during
the marriage ceremony. I've often heard her laugh about it; how
Wolfgang bought a ring as big as his money would pay for, and let it
go at that. She didn't see what difference it made whether it went
only on