‘Nor, thenk ye!’ at last drawled the elder of the boys.

‘Nor, thenk ye!’ repeated Miss Howard, imitating the drawl. ‘Why not?’ asked she, sharply.

The boy stared stupidly.

‘Why won’t you come in?’ asked she, again addressing him.

‘Don’t know,’ replied the boy, staring vacantly at his younger brother, as he rubbed a pearl off his nose on the back of his hand.

‘Don’t know!’ ejaculated Miss Howard, stamping her little foot on the Turkey carpet.

‘Mar said we hadn’t,’ whined the younger boy, coming to the rescue of his brother.

‘Mar said we hadn’t,’ retorted the fair interrogator. ‘Why not?’

‘Don’t know,’ replied the elder.

‘Don’t know! you little stupid animal,’ snapped Miss Howard, the cold air increasing the warmth of her temper. ‘I wonder what you do know. Why did your ma say you were not to come in?’ continued she, addressing the younger one.

‘Because -- because,’ hesitated he, ‘she said the house was full of trumpets.’

‘Trumpets, you little scamp!’ exclaimed the lady, reddening up; ‘I’ll get a whip and cut your jacket into ribbons on your back.’ And thereupon she banged down the window and closed the conversation.