Page:Mistress Madcap Surrenders (1926).pdf/23

 "I hae ma doots," answered John Wright. He reached over and jerked his buckskin coat from the chair back. "Do 'ee close the door, Mither," he mumbled, struggling into it. "Lettin' out ma' gude heat, thus!"

But Dame Wright paused in the open doorway to watch her geese waddling home before the storm. "Yo' canna deny they be a bonnie sicht, Feyther!" she observed proudly.

"Aye—though the older ain do be growin' rather pert, I'm thinkin'!" replied old John's voice behind her.

Dame Wright turned around and stared at him. "Wha!" she exclaimed. "Wha, Feyther?"

"Why, 'tis Hitty I speak of," said Master Wright, in equal surprise, appearing at her side. "Were yo' not sayin' summat aboot Samuel Condit's lassies?"

Dame Wright burst into laughter. "Nay!" she gasped, when she could speak. Twas the geese, John!"

"A' the same," grinned John Wright, "geese and lassies—a' the same!"

"Now, Feyther!" protested his wife, chuckling, however. "Dinna be sae mean."

And the heavy door closed upon the two merry old faces.

Mehitable and Charity, meanwhile, trotted on through a storm which was fast increasing in vio-