here's but one creature in all God's world that cares nothing for
cleanliness! Even a pig has some manners if given half a chance, but
boys!" She seized the grimy towel and held it up despairingly for
Father Van Hove to see. "He's just wet his face and wiped all the dirt
off on the towel. The Devil himself is not more afraid of holy water
than Jan Van Hove is of water of any kind!" she cried.

"Go and wash yourself properly, Janke," said his father sternly, and
Jan disappeared through the kitchen door. Sounds of vigorous pumping
and splashing without were heard in the kitchen, and when Jan appeared
once more, he was allowed to take his place at the supper-table with
the family.

Father Van Hove bowed his head, and the Twins and their mother made the
sign of the cross with him, as he began their grace before meat. "In
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen,"
prayed Father Van Hove. "Hail, Mary, full of Grace." Then, as the
prayer continued, the mother and children with folded hands and bowed
heads joined in the petition: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
sinners now and in the hour of our death, Amen." A clatter of spoons
followed the grace, and Mother Van Hove's good buttermilk pap was not
long in disappearing down their four hungry throats.

The long day in the open air had made the children so sleepy they could
scarcely keep their eyes open through the meal. "Come, my children,"
said their mother briskly, as she rose from the table, "pop into bed,
both of you, as fast as you can go. You are already half asleep!
Father, you help them with their buttons, and hear them say their
prayers, while I wash up these dishes and take care of the milk." She
took a candle from the chimney-piece as she spoke, and started down
cellar with the skimmer. When she came back into the kitchen once more,
the children were safely tucked in bed, and her husband was seated by
the kitchen door with his chair tipped back against the wall, smoking
his evening pipe. Mother Van Hove cleared the table, washed the dishes,
and brushed the crumbs from the tiled floor. Then she spread the white
sand once more under the table and in a wide border around the edge of
the room, and hung the brush outside the kitchen door.

Father Van Hove smoked in silence as she moved about the room. At last
he said to her, "Leonie, did you hear what our neighbor Maes said
to-night as we were talking in the road?"

"No," said his wife,