“We promised the Van Dorns that we would be there,” Christine told her as she sat down on the end of the bench unoccupied by the cats. “How are you all, Hannah Maria?” she asked. “Tollable, Tiny, jest tollable. Bud had a misery in his haid this mornin’ an’ I got the indisgesting or somethin’. I wisht you’d stay; Bud’ll be real put out.” “Where is Bud?” “Oh, I don’t know; he’s round somewhars. Seems to me he said he was goin’ to Lon’s; mebbe he didn’t go. I’ll call him. Bud, oh, Bud!” she shrilled out, without moving from her place. “Aren’t you warm in that sunbonnet, Hannah Maria?” asked Alison, taking off her hat and fanning herself with it. “Law, I don’t know. It keeps the sun outen my eyes; that’s why I w’ar it so constant.” Certainly it was not to save her complexion, thought Alison, for that was of an unhealthy sallowness and Hannah Maria continually complained of “indisgesting.” “I suppose you-all ain’t got ary news,” said she, replacing her snuff stick in the corner of her mouth. “No, except that we have had a letter from Neal,” Alison answered. “Law, did you ever?” “Hadn’t you heard that? I thought John would have told Bud.” “Well, he didn’t, not that I’ve heard of. Ain’t thet jest like a man? What did Neal hev to say? I declar’ I’m glad you came. My nose been a-eetchin’ all day.” She put up her hand to that small snub member to give it a vigorous rubbing. “Did ye bring the letter along?” “No, John has it. I can tell you what was in it,” said Alison, and she gave an outline of Neal’s news. “He’s a real nice feller,” said Hannah Maria approvingly. “I wisht he’d pick out some good gal when he gits back. I wonder how Laury Van Dorn would suit him, but then I reckon he’d be cuttin’ out John if he took her. I was jest settin’ here a-thinkin’ how nice it would be fer Allie to take Blythe and Johnny to hev Laury so they could hev a double weddin’. We ain’t never had a double weddin’ about hyar. When John and Laury goin’ to fix it up?” “Why, I am sure I don’t know that they ever will,” said Alison. “John likes Laura; so do we all, but I don’t think he has any idea of getting married.” “Well, I certainly do like to see young folks git jined,” drawled Hannah Maria sentimentally. “I like to watch ’em smilin’ at each other like they was happy as turkle-doves. Now whar was it you tol’ me Neal was? I declar’ I fergit.” “At Puebla,” replied Christine. “They seem to be taking a rest there, and John says the men deserve it after all they have done in two months. They have captured as large a number of prisoners as they have men in their own army, and have taken many of the most strongly fortified places on the continent. Next thing they will be in Mexico.” “That they will,” broke in Alison, “and Neal will bring me something from there because I was the one who answered his letter.” “Oh, that is why you wrote, was it?” said Christine. “Loaves and fishes, was it? I thought you did not seem averse to the task.”