but I haven't seen her since breakfast," said the mother, somewhat
anxiously.

"Oh! she's around somewhere. Was at the laundry window while I was
tending to the children, and said she'd go find their clothes. In all
my born days I never saw two small heads could hatch the mischief
Ned's and Luis' can. It's out of one scrape into another, and seems if
they must break their necks some day."

"Oh! don't forecast evil. Their pranks keep my nerves on tension all
the time, yet I shouldn't worry so. They always escape from harm. But
I'd like to know how they got that horse."

"So would I. They must have had help painting it. Stands to reason two
midgets like them couldn't have kept a high-spirited creatur' quiet
while they wasted enough good paint on him to cover a meeting house."

"John won't be pleased. He's so careful of his belongings, even I
never touch them without permission," said the ranch mistress, smiling
afresh at the memory of the ridiculous picture the boys had made.

"Don't surprise me't you laugh, Gabriella, but you'd ought to put the
reins on tighter to them chaps, lest first you know they'll be driving
you, not you them. Do it already, seems if."

"How can I be stern with Cassius' little son? Every day I see more
resemblance to his father in the childs face; yes, and in his nature,
too. Nobody was ever fonder of fun than my husband, yet surely there
never was a better man."

"Oh! Neddy's all right. Trouble is to keep him from thinkin' so
himself. But, there. Why don't you eat your dinner? You haven't more'n
half touched it. It's a shame to waste good victuals, and these are
good. I fixed 'em myself."

The other smiled again at the complacency visible upon her friend's
face, which so innocently dsplayed the same feeling that had just been
deplored in Ned. However, Aunt Sally was too busy with her own food to
notice anything else, and it seemed long to her companion before she
had finished and risen, to call, sharply:

"Pas-qual! Oh, Pasqual-ly! Why aren't you on hand to clear the table?
Don't you know I've got--and here followed a long list of things to be
done, more than many could accomplish in several days." Each had some
reference to the coming holidays, and the house boy understood this.
He entered, more willingly than usual, grinning with the anticipation
of the raisins he would have to stone, the nuts he must crack, and the
goodly samples of each that he would surreptitiously procure.

Mrs.