"Now you shet up, you silly child!" said Dorcas, with the dignity of a twelve-month's seniority.
"Wal, he dropped this 'ere in my hand, anyhow, as he went out," said
Obed, opening his hand cautiously, and showing a Spanish doubloon.
"Oh! then you must give it right back to him to-morrow, Obe!" said the honest sisters; "it's gold! and he couldn't 'a' meant you should hev it!"
"I do' know 'bout that! I'll keep it t'll he asks me for 't, I guess!" said Obed, sturdily.
"What did you think about him, Henry?" said the wife; "you wouldn't 'a' known him?"
"Never! there a'n't an inch o' Swan Day in him! They say people change once in seven years. I should be loath to feel I'd lost all my looks as he has!"
"We grow old, though," answered she, with a touch of pathos in her voice, as she remembered the words of Swan.
"Old? of course, wife!" was the hearty answer; "but then we've got somethin' to show for 't!"
He glanced at her and the children proudly, and then bidding the young ones, "Scatter, quick time!" he stretched his comfortable six-feet-two before the fire, and smiled out of an easy, happy heart.
"What's looks?" said he, philosophically. "You look jest the same to me, wife, as ever you did!"