"There, now, sir! You look at them."
"They are very well worth looking at; a pair of stout, rosy, healthy, happy lasses, I'm sure," said Mr. Berners, smiling at them, and feeling in his pocket for some loose coins.
"Well, sir, them's my twins. I nussed 'em both myself without any help from a bottle—either a bottle for them, sir, or a bottle for myself," said the mother, proudly.
"They do you much credit, certainly," said Mr. Berners, who had now found two half-eagles.
"Well, sir, they never had a day's sickness in their lives. I showed 'em to you, sir, to prove as I could nuss two children successful."
"I'm convinced of it."
"One of 'em is named Elizabeth Ann, and the other Ann Elizabeth. The same name because they're twins, sir, only put backwards and forwards like, so as to tell one gal's name from t'other's. And I call 'em Betsy Ann and Nancy 'Lizabeth on week-days and work days; and I call 'em Elizabeth Ann and Ann Elizabeth on Sundays and company days."
"Quite right," said Mr. Berners, smiling.
"And now, gals, you may go," said the mother.
"Here, my dears! Here is somethings to buy you a Christmas gift each," said Mr. Berners, slipping the gold coins into the hands of the children.