"That's the name in the old black book, grandma, that you said belonged to a friend," interrupted Jessie, and while grandma groaned, Mrs. Reeves continued:
"Said that Patty did housework in Hopkinton, and I believe could milk seventeen cows to her one!"
"Oh," said Jessie, "how I wish I could milk. It's such fun. I did try once, but got the tiniest stream, and Walter said I'd dry the cows all up. I wish you could hear him when he first begins. It sounds like hail stones rattling on the tin pail. Did yours sound so, grandma, and did you buy the pail of Mr. Gregory?"
Mrs. Reeves, by this time, began to think that Jessie might be making fun of her, and smothering her wrath, she proceeded:
"I shouldn't care anything about the housework or the milking, but I'll confess I was shocked, when she spoke of——"
"I certainly am going to faint, Jessie, do go out," gasped the white figure in the rocking chair, while Jessie rejoined:
"I don't see how my going out can help you." Then crossing over to her grandmother, she whispered, "Brave it out. Don't let her see that you care."
Thus entreated Mrs. Bartow became somewhat composed, and her tormentor went on:
"This Patty Lummis, Aunt Debby said, was blood relation to three Thayers, who were hung some years ago for murdering John Love, or some such name. I remember hearing of it at the time, but did not suppose I knew any of their relatives."
"Horrid!" cried Jessie, and then, as she saw how white her grandmother was, she added quickly: