"Yes, sir; he done 'em both."
"That is an intelligent lad of yours, Gray."
"Well, sir, he is just a wonder."
"How do you account for his being so different from—from—"
"From me and Hannah?" inquired the simple Reuben, helping the judge out of his difficulty. "Well, sir, I s'pose as how his natur' were diff'ent, and so he growed up diff'ent accordin' to his natur'. Human creeters differ like wegetables, sir; some one sort and some another. Me and Hannah, sir, we's like plain 'tatoes; but Ishmael, sir, is like a rich, bright blooming peach! That's the onliest way as I can explain it, sir."
"A very satisfactory explanation, Gray! How are Hannah and those wonderful twins?"
"Fine, sir; fine, thank Heaven! Miss Claudia was so good as to send word as how she would come to see Hannah as soon as she was able to see company. Now Hannah is able to-day, sir, and would be proud to see Miss Claudia and to show her the babbies."
"Very well, Gray! I will let my daughter know," said the judge, rising from his chair.
Reuben took this as a hint that his departure was desirable, and so he made his bow and his exit.
In another moment, however, he reappeared, holding his hat in his hand and saying: