"
"I am two, Patty."
"And three is purty Huldy, Cunnil!"
They looked at each other a few minutes in silence.
"There is two to one," said Patty Cannon, with a giggle. "We have no
neighbors that air not used to noises yer."
The silence was restored while the two products of men-dealing read each
other's countenances.
"I made a very conservative and liberal proposition to her, Patty, and
she insulted me, yet beautifully. But I owe her a grudge for it."
"Insulted you, Cunnil? The ongrateful huzzy! Can't you insult her back?
She never dared to disobey _me_. Her pride once broke down, she'll be
like other gals, I reckon."
"That's true, no doubt. But, Patty, haven't you a little remorse about
it, considering she's your grandchild?"
"My mother had none fur me, honey," the old woman chuckled, familiarly.
"What is that story I have heard something of, about your origin,
Patty?"
"I don't know no more about it, Cunnil, than a pore, ignorant gal would,
you know. I've hearn my grandfather was a lord. A gypsy woman enticed
his son and he married her. His father drove him from his door, an' his
wife fetched him on her money to Canady, where she went into the
smugglin' business at St. John's, half-way between Montreal and the
United States."
"And he was hanged there for assassinating a friend who detected him?"
"They says so, honey. Anyhow, he was hanged. We gals was beautiful.
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