a bought this red flannel at the bankrupt sale,' he said. 'She
allowed 'twould keep us in vests and her in petticuts and thro't
bandages for ten years, and I'm not going to begin to waste the minute
she's under ground. She would say, "you go on wearin' them vests!" and
I'm goin' to.'

"'She wouldn't!' said the other. 'She'd say, "you go on wearin' the coat
and pants, but if you are in mournin' for me, show it by puttin' on a
black vest, as is no more than decent."'

"'I can mourn just as well in red flannel as what I can in black!' says
the first one.

"'You can't!' says the other.

"'I'll show you whether I can or not!' says the first.

"And at that they turned face to face to each other and sideways to me,
and each riz up his right arm--honest, Mr. Parks, I couldn't believe
but 'twas the same person and him reflected in a mirror, they was so
like. I thought they was goin' to strike each other, so I stepped
forward and said, 'Good mornin', Cousins; I've come!'"

Again she tinkled a laugh. "You never see men more surprised than what
they was; but they shook hands real pleasant, made me welcome, and then
walked one off one way and one the other, and so it has remained. At
first they wanted to eat in different rooms, but I told 'em I couldn't
have that, nor yet I couldn't have no quarrellin', so now we get on real
pleasant, as you see. But isn't it comical? There! when I see them--"

At this moment a prolonged cough was heard from the direction of the
sitting-room; and at the same time a thin high voice called, "Calvin!
you got lost, or what?"

"Cousins are gettin' uneasy!" said Mary Sands. "You'd best go in, Mr.
Parks, and I'm a thousand times obliged to you for helpin' me with the
dishes. You are an elegant washer, I must say."

"Miss Hands," replied Calvin Parks as he drew on his coat, "the man who
wouldn't wash good to such wipin' as yours wouldn't deserve to eat out
of a dish. The thanks is on my side for enjoyin' the privilege."

CHAPTER III

CALVIN'S STORY

Passing from the kitchen into the back sitting-room, Calvin found Mr.
Sim hunched in his chair, looking injured.

"I didn't know but you had gone without comin' in," he said; "seems to
me you've ben a long time with them dishes."

"They're handsome dishes!" replied Calvin. "You wouldn't have me hurry
and risk droppin' of them, would you? Well, Sim, I s'pose I must be
joggin' along."

"What's your hurry? what's your hurry?" cried Mr. Si