"If she was really very good she'd try not to be so peculiar," retorted his wife, nettled at the failure of her story. "Did you ever see such a figure, with her dress all unbuttoned at the back showing her stays."

"She's not got a husband to fasten the middle buttons," said the farmer slyly. "She can't very well ask the pig, you know."

"Well, no, she can't," said his wife, good-naturedly; "but she tries my patience pretty often."

"That's not so hard as it sounds," said the farmer, looking innocently in front of him.

"Now, then," said his wife, "who wanted a potato-pie for supper?"

"I expect it was our Joseph," said the farmer.

"Not it," retorted his wife.

"Well, myself, I prefer women who aren't so peculiar," said the farmer.
"Even if they're not so good," he added.

"Take care," replied his wife. "That potato-pie isn't in the oven yet!"

CHAPTER IV