"It seems to me, David," the querulous voice was saying, "that the sun, up your way, rose mighty late to-day." "There, there, Susan Jane, 't is the same old sun as rises an' sets fur all. Had a bad night, Susan Jane?" "Bad night! that shows what sympathy you have for me, David. All my nights are bad. Bad as bad can be, unless they be worse!" "Well, Susan Jane, let's hope that a bad night argers a good day. There! are ye fixed, reasonably comfortable? P'r'aps the pillers ought' be a mite higher. How's that? An' now, if you want t' read a bit I'll fix the brekfus. I sot some biscuits overnight." "Give me the Bible, David, an' my money box! There, open t' the same old chapter. Thank the Lord, that chapter is all on one page! Since He thought wise to take the usefulness from my members, I'm glad He made folks print my favorite chapter so there's no need of turnin' over. Land knows, who'd ever think of waitin' on me!" "Come now, Susan Jane, I'm always willin', when I ain't on government duty." "Government duty or sleep! Men is all alike. How would you feel if you was stricken like me?" "Powerful bad, Susan Jane, powerful bad. Ye bear yer lot uncommon patient, Susan Jane; I'm never overlookin' that. But if ye put yer mind to it, wife, ye'll see that if I do my duty, I must sleep--some. Howsomever, Mark Tapkins will have his turn to-night, same as usual; an' I can set with ye this evenin'. The government is powerful generous, Susan Jane, t' give this every other night shift." "Generous, umph! There, David, do get the meal. I guess if you had laid awake all night, you'd have considerable cravin' in yer stomach fur victuals. I've a real sinkin'." "Sho! I must get a double wriggle on, Susan Jane." David stumbled over a stool on his way to the stove; he was dizzy from sleepiness, and he, too, had a sensation of sinking. "Sho! I be gettin' monstrous awkward!" he muttered apologetically; "I hope I ain't waked Janet!" "S'pose you had!" snapped his wife; "you think that more important than my nerves? I don't more'n half like Janet comin' here. If it hadn't been fur me, I know you'd taken her fur nothin'! No matter if I do have t' go t' the poorhouse on account of yer shiftlessness. I, stricken an' helpless! She can come here fur nothin'! I jest know, David, that it would be a real release fur a great, strong man like you to be rid of a poor stricken wife; but I guess you'll have to bide the Lord's will whether you want t' or no!" At this point David spilled a kettle of water he was bearing from the pump, outside the door, to the range. "By gum! Susan Jane," he said cheerily, "I guess no one but you could put up with a blunderin' old feller like me. Ye better reconsider an' stay t' see the game out. Two eggs, this mornin', wife, or one?" "Two, David! You didn't think t' scrimp _me_, did you? If one egg has got t' be given, you'd better begin on yourself, or Janet!" "Come, come, Susan Jane; there is two apiece, an' six fur company!"