im continued. "His mind allers run
that way; mine didn't. Besides, I ain't a well man; I ain't in no shape
to marry, Calvin, no way in the world, if I wanted to, and I don't. Now,
Calvin, I want you to kind of urge Sam'l on. We ain't speakin', Sam'l
and me, you know that. I told you how 'twas, fust time you come round.
Nothin' agin one another, only we don't like. So I can't urge him
myself; and fust thing we know some outlandishman or other'll step in
and kerry her off, and then where should we be, Sam'l and me? I ask you
that, Calvin Parks. We're gettin' on, you know, Cal; we're five years
good older than what you be, and we couldn't abide hired help, no way in
the world. You urge Sam'l on to speak to Cousin, won't you now? I'd take
it real friendly of you, Cal. I allers thought a sight of you, and so
did Ma. 'Twould please Ma if you got a good woman for Sam'l, Cal. Say
you'll think about it!"

"I'll think about it!" said Calvin Parks.

* * * * *

An hour later, Calvin was out in the barnyard, leaning over the pigsty,
and looking at the finest hogs in the county. Mr. Sam pronounced them
so, and he ought to know, Calvin thought. Calvin had never cared for
hogs himself.

"You see them hawgs," said Mr. Sam with squeaking enthusiasm, "and you
see the best there is. Take 'em for looks, or heft, or eatin', there's
no hawgs can touch 'em in this county. I'll go further and say State.
They're a _lovely_ hawg, sir! that's what they are; lovely!"

"All black, be they?" asked Calvin, for the sake of saying something.

"All black!" said Mr. Sam. "I bought 'em off'n Reuben Hutch. They was
Cousin's choice in the fust place. She likes 'em black; says they look
cleaner, and I guess they do. I don't know as you've remarked it, Cal,
but I think a sight of Cousin."

He cast a sly glance at Calvin, who again returned inward thanks for the
solid brown of his cheeks.

"I should s'pose you might!" he said shortly.

"A sight!" repeated Mr. Sam emphatically. "You show me a smarter woman
than that, Calvin Parks, and I'll show you a toad with three tails."

He paused, as if waiting for Calvin to avail himself of this handsome
offer.

"Well!" said Calvin, rather morosely. "I ain't got no smarter woman to
show. What are you drivin' at, Sam Sill?"

Mr. Sam's little eyes were twinkling, and his sharp features were
twisting themselves into knots which were anything but becoming.

"Calvin," he said, "when I look at tha