"That must be bad for the house."
"We shall be roofed with slate next time," said Mrs. Gano; "it lasts longer."
"Oh, we can't complain of the way a shingle roof has lasted, that's done duty more than a quarter of a century," returned her son.
"Whenever it rains we have such fun," said Emmie. "We carry up an army of buckets and basins and washtubs to catch the rain in the attic. Last week it came through into father's room in the night, and Val—"
"Emmeline," said Mrs. Gano, "walk on; the path is narrow here."
As they passed the kitchen-window Ethan glanced in.
"Good-morning, Aunt Jerusha! Morning, Venus!"
"Mawnin'!"
"Mawnin', Marse Efan!"
The old woman hobbled delightedly to the window, avoiding a broken place in the flooring.