tree whar we seed her standin' jest befo'
we went down beyant the hill. You ain't jealous o' that weak little
woman, air you?"

Slowly rocking, and reflecting for a few moments, she replied: "Jasper,
it's the weak little women that air so strong with the men."

"Yes," he declared, "and it's the weak little women that have sons that
air so ready to march to the tap of the drum. But I give you and our
daughter all the love thar is in this old heart o' mine, and that ought
to be enough."

"But you don't appear to want to talk to me," she whimpered.

"Talkin' to you now, ain't I?"

"Yes," she admitted, "sich talk as it is."

"Well, what do you want me to do? Stand like that young feller Elliott
and read stuff writ in short lines?"

Margaret flounced out of the chair. "Oh, I never seed a man that could
be as big a fool when he tried. I do know that--" Here she was
interrupted by the unheralded entrance of Mose Blake, the stuttering boy
with the tea-cup. He nodded at Starbuck and began to stutter. "Mother
sent me atter--atter a c--c--c--cup o' v--v--v--"

"How's all the folks, Mose?" Margaret broke in.

"W--w--w--w--w--"

"Glad to know it," said Starbuck. Mose looked at him with a dry grin,
sat down in the rocking-chair and began to rock himself.

"What did yo' mother send you after, Mose?" Margaret inquired.

"Cup o' v--v--v--v--v--"

"Can't you write it down?" Jasper inquired.

"Kik--kik--kik--ki--kan'--can't write."

"Don't you think you mout go off somewhar an' l'arn?"

"Ain't got--got tity--tity--t----t--time."

"Wall," said Jasper, "it appears to me like you've got all the time thar
is. Wall. All right, jest set thar till it comes to you and then let us
know what you want." He went over to a table where his wife was
standing, drew out a stool, sat down and said to her: "So, you think I
can be a bigger fool when I try than--"

"Hush," she cautioned, pointing to Mose, "he's a hearin' you."

Starbuck slowly turned his head, looked at Mose and then said to his
wife: "Wall, whar's the difference, he can't tell about it."

"Come atter a c--c--c--cup o' v--v--v--v--"

"Jest hold her down, Mose," Jasper encouragingly remarked, "and mebby
she'll come right side up atter a while."

"Jasper," said Margaret, "don't distress him."

"I ain't distressin' him half as much as he is me. 'Bout ready to give
her another trial, Mose?"

"Want a cup o' vin--vin--vin--"

"Oh, you air gettin' thar."

"Cup o' v-