She spoke with calm and cheerful authority; the twins glowered at the corned beef in silence. "Speakin' of critters," said Calvin Parks hastily, "how many head are you carryin' now, boys?" There was no reply. Looking at Miss Sands, her eyes directed his glance to Mr. Sam. "How many head are you carryin', Sam?" he repeated. "Twenty!" replied Mr. Sam. "That's a nice herd," said Calvin. "Hereford, be they?" "Holstein!" said Sam. "They're the best milkers, and the best beef critters too." Mr. Sim looked at Mary Sands with kindling eyes. "Tell him it ain't so!" he said. "Tell him he knows better!" "Cousin Sim says it ain't so, and you know better, Cousin Sam," said Mary Sands. "Tell him he knows wuss!" grunted Mr. Sam. "Cousin Sam says you know wuss, Cousin Sim, and that will do!" said Mary Sands quietly. It was the same at dessert. Calvin praised the admirable quality of the pie. "Now this," he said, "is my idee of a squash pie. It isn't slickin' up and tryin' to look like custard, nor yet it don't make believe it's pumpkin; it just says, 'I am a squash pie, and if there's a better article you may let me know.'" "I'm real pleased you like it," said Mary Sands modestly; "it's Cousin Lucindy's recipe. She must have been a master hand at pies." "She certinly was!" said Mr. Sam. "Squash and pumpkin and cranberry, Ma was fust-rate in all; but mince was her best holt." "Tell him it warn't," said Mr. Sim, fixing his cousin with a burning eye. "Tell him her apple bet it holler." "Cousin Sim says it warn't, Cousin Sam, and her apple bet it holler," repeated Mary Sands cheerfully. "Tell him he's a turnip-head!" said Mr. Sam. "I don't repeat no calling names," said Mary Sands. "Mr. Parks, will you have some more of the pie? Cousin Sam, another piece? Cousin Sim? well, then, the meal is finished, Cousins!" Each twin, as he rose from the table, cast a glance of invitation at Calvin Parks; but he hastily seized a dish. "I'm going to help Miss Hands clear off," he said; and he followed Mary Sands into the kitchen. "Oh! Mr. Parks," said Mary, "you no need to do that! I'm well used to washing dishes!" "I should suppose you was," responded Calvin Parks gallantly, "but if you'll let me help, Miss Hands, it would be an accommodation, now it would. Fact is," he continued, "I expect I shall bust if I don't find out what this all means, and I want you to tell me. How long have the boys been actin' this way?" "How long?" repeated Mary Sands. "Ever since I come. Haven't they always been so?" "Always been so?" repeated Calvin Parks. "Why, Miss Hands--why--" he looked about him helplessly. "Well, I am blowed!" he said plaintively. "I'll have to ask you to excuse the expression, Miss Hands, but I really am! Perhaps I'd better tell you how things used to be in this house, and then you can see how--how blowed I am at findin' them as they be."