There was a long silence, Mary turning tomatoes, Calvin staring straight ahead of him with the same wooden countenance. At length he cleared his throat and spoke slowly and laboriously.
"There's something in what you say, Miss Hands, and I'm bound to confess that—that I've had thoughts of something of the kind before you spoke. But—well, we'll put it this way. Which of them two old—of them two individuals, we'll call 'em for this once—would a woman be likely to fancy? I—I should be pleased to have your opinion on that p'int."
Mary considered, turning the Crimson Cushions meanwhile with a careful hand. Calvin, misunderstanding her silence, went on.
"What I mean is—if a woman was thinkin' of matrimony—" he winced again, seeming to hear Mr. Sam's voice squeaking out the word,—"if a woman was thinkin' of matrimony, and one of them two should take her fancy more than the other—why—a person as was friendly to all concerned might try his hand in the way of helpin' to bring it about."
Mary glanced up quickly at him, but no friendly twinkle responded to her glance. Calvin's brown eyes were still dark with trouble, and he still stared moodily away from her.
"'Tis hard to say!" she replied after a pause. "Cousin Sim needs the most care."
"He does so!" said Calvin Parks. "Sim certinly needs care. And—he's a home-lovin' man, Simeon is, and sober, and honest. There's things you could find in Sim that's no worse than what you'd find in some others, I make no doubt; and—and any one would have a first-rate home, and every comfort."
"Oh! Mr. Parks, but do you think any woman could make up her mind to marry Cousin Sim?" said Mary.
Calvin gave her a bewildered look, and went on, still slowly and laboriously.
"Not bein' a woman myself, ma'am, nor had any special dealin's with the sex since I growed up, it ain't easy for me to form an opinion. But since you ask me honest—well—maybe not! This brings us to Sam'l. Now Sam'l is a man that has his faculties, such as they are. He has his health, and he's smart and capable. A good farmer Sam has always been, and a good manager. Careful and savin'; and there'd be the house, same as in Simeon's case. Anybody would have them a good home, and—"