“Now look!” exclaimed Mrs. Wackernagel.  “And when I said, after while, ‘Now I must go,’ she was that unneighborly she never ast me, ‘What’s your hurry?’”

“Was she that spited!” said Mrs. Wackernagel, half pityingly.  “Well, it was just like Sister Jennie Hershey, if she didn’t want Teacher stayin’ there, to tell him right out.  Some ain’t as honest.  Some talks to please the people.”

“What fur sermont did yous have this morning?” asked Mr. Wackernagel, his mouth full of chicken.

“We had Levi Harnish.  He preached good,” said Mrs. Wackernagel.  “Ain’t he did, Tillie?”

“Yes,” replied Tillie, coloring with the guilty consciousness that scarcely a word of that sermon had she heard.

“I like to hear a sermont, like hisn, that does me good to my heart,” said Mrs. Wackernagel.

“Levi Harnish, he’s a learnt preacher,” said her husband, turning to Fairchilds.  “He reads wonderful much.  And he’s always thinkin’ so earnest about his learnin’ that I’ve saw him walk along the street in Lancaster a’ready and a’most walk into people!” “He certainly can stand on the pulpit elegant!” agreed Mrs. Wackernagel.  “Why, he can preach his whole sermont with the Bible shut, yet!  And he can put out elocution that it’s something turrible!”

“You are not a Mennonite, are you?” Fairchilds asked of the landlord.

“No,” responded Mr. Wackernagel, with a shrug.  “I bothered a whole lot at one time about religion.  Now I never bother.”

“We had Silas Trout to lead the singin’ this morning,” continued Mrs. Wackernagel.  “I wisht I could sing by note, like him.  I don’t know notes; I just sing by random.”

“Where’s Doc, anyhow?” suddenly inquired Amanda, for the doctor’s place at the table was vacant.

“He was fetched away.  Mary Holzapple’s mister come fur him!” Mr. Wackernagel explained, with a meaning nod.

“I say!” cried Mrs. Wackernagel.  “So soon a’ready!  And last week it was Sue Hess!  Doc’s always gettin’ fetched!  Nothin’ but babies and babies!”

Tillie, whose eyes were always on tne teacher, except when he chanced to glance her way, noted wonderingly the blush that suddenly covered his face and neck at this exclamation of her aunt’s.  In the primitive simplicity of her mind, she could see nothing embarrassing in the mere statement of any fact of natural history.

“Here comes Doc now!” cried Rebecca, at the opening of the kitchen door.  “Hello, Doc!” she cried as he came into the dining-room.  “What is it?”

“Twin girls!” the doctor proudly announced, going over to the stove to warm his hands after his long drive.

“My lands!” exclaimed Amanda.

“Now what do you think!” ejaculated Mrs. Wackernagel.

“How’s missus?” Rebecca inquired.

“Doin’ fine!  But mister he ain’t feelin’ so well.  He wanted a boy —­or boys, as the case might be.  It’s gettin’ some cold out,” he added, rubbing his hands and holding them to the fire.