ands, her eyes directed his glance
to Mr. Sam.

"How many head are you carryin', Sam?" he repeated.

"Twenty!" replied Mr. Sam.

"That's a nice herd," said Calvin. "Hereford, be they?"

"Holstein!" said Sam. "They're the best milkers, and the best beef
critters too."

Mr. Sim looked at Mary Sands with kindling eyes. "Tell him it ain't so!"
he said. "Tell him he knows better!"

"Cousin Sim says it ain't so, and you know better, Cousin Sam," said
Mary Sands.

"Tell him he knows wuss!" grunted Mr. Sam.

"Cousin Sam says you know wuss, Cousin Sim, and that will do!" said
Mary Sands quietly.

It was the same at dessert. Calvin praised the admirable quality of the
pie.

"Now this," he said, "is my idee of a squash pie. It isn't slickin' up
and tryin' to look like custard, nor yet it don't make believe it's
pumpkin; it just says, 'I am a squash pie, and if there's a better
article you may let me know.'"

"I'm real pleased you like it," said Mary Sands modestly; "it's Cousin
Lucindy's recipe. She must have been a master hand at pies."

"She certinly was!" said Mr. Sam. "Squash and pumpkin and cranberry, Ma
was fust-rate in all; but mince was her best holt."

"Tell him it warn't," said Mr. Sim, fixing his cousin with a burning
eye. "Tell him her apple bet it holler."

"Cousin Sim says it warn't, Cousin Sam, and her apple bet it holler,"
repeated Mary Sands cheerfully.

"Tell him he's a turnip-head!" said Mr. Sam.

"I don't repeat no calling names," said Mary Sands. "Mr. Parks, will you
have some more of the pie? Cousin Sam, another piece? Cousin Sim? well,
then, the meal is finished, Cousins!"

Each twin, as he rose from the table, cast a glance of invitation at
Calvin Parks; but he hastily seized a dish. "I'm going to help Miss
Hands clear off," he said; and he followed Mary Sands into the kitchen.

"Oh! Mr. Parks," said Mary, "you no need to do that! I'm well used to
washing dishes!"

"I should suppose you was," responded Calvin Parks gallantly, "but if
you'll let me help, Miss Hands, it would be an accommodation, now it
would. Fact is," he continued, "I expect I shall bust if I don't find
out what this all means, and I want you to tell me. How long have the
boys been actin' this way?"

"How long?" repeated Mary Sands. "Ever since I come. Haven't they always
been so?"

"Always been so?" repeated Calvin Parks. "Why, Miss Hands--why--" he
looked about him helplessly. "Well, I am blowed!" he said plai