"Oh, no I ain't," was the mournful reply. "I know my risin' bread never did suit ye, Jase Day. And ye said yer mother's pies was fur an' away better'n mine." "When'd I ever say that?" demanded the man. "Jest after we was merried," Aunt 'Mira said, wiping her eyes on the corner of her apron. "Oh, gee!" exploded Marty. "Twenty year an more ago!" snorted Uncle Jason. "Why, of course he doesn't think so _now_," urged Janice, seeking to oil the troubled waters of Aunt 'Mira's soul. "Of all women!" groaned Mr. Day. "Oh, no," sighed his wife, who was gradually working herself into a tearful state. "I know I ain't been the helpmeet you expected me to be, Jase Day." Uncle Jason snorted. "I know my failin's"--in a tone that admitted they were very few--"and I long ago seen ye didn't trust me, Jase. I never know nothin' about your business. I never know what ye aim to do till it's _done_. I never----" "I snum!" cried Uncle Jase. "What is it ye wanter know? There ain't no satisfyin' you women." Janice tried to smooth matters again. "I'm sure, Aunt 'Mira, if Uncle Jason doesn't always take you into his confidence about business matters it's only because he wants to save you worry." "Now you've said something," commented Marty vehemently, while his father looked at the girl gratefully. "I dunno what she wants ter know," he said. "Well," Aunt 'Mira put in quickly, showing that she was not at all lacking in shrewdness and that there might be method in her procedure, "what did that Aaron Whelpley want ter see ye for, f'rinstance?" "Oh! him?" gasped Uncle Jason, flushing dully. "Why--jest nothin' at all! nothin' at all! Came to tell me--ahem!--Tom Hotchkiss hadn't come back yet." "Why, I told you that, Dad!" ejaculated Marty in surprise. "Ya-as--so ye did," faltered his father. "But Aaron knowed I wanted to see Tom----" "What for?" demanded Aunt 'Mira, with an insistence in getting at the meat in the kernel that amazed Janice. "Why--er--on business," admitted Mr. Day stumblingly. "There it goes!" broke down Aunt 'Mira, fairly sobbing now. "Jest as soon as I wanter know about anything I _should_ know about, I'm put down an' sat upon. Oh! Oh!" "Woman! you're crazy!" ejaculated Mr. Day, pushing back his chair hastily and leaving his supper but half eaten. Janice ran to put her arms about Aunt 'Mira's plump and shaking shoulders, meanwhile motioning her uncle toward the sitting room. Marty, having finished, rose to follow his father. "There!" sobbed Mrs. Day, "it's jest as I tell ye. He don't relish my victuals. He ain't et supper enough for a sparrow." "Any sparrow that et what dad did," said Marty as he left the room, "would die of apoplexy! Turn off the water-works, Ma. That won't get you nothin'." "Men air sech heartless critters," sobbed Aunt 'Mira. "Why, you sound like Mrs. Scattergood!" declared Janice with a little laugh. "To hear her to-day----"