“Didshecallyouanexception，oranything？“saidLin。
　　“Well，itwouldcipheroutrightcloseinthatneighborhood。“
　　“Here’show，then！“criedthedelightedLin，overhiscup。
　　“Jestbecauseyu’happentocomefromVermont，“continuedMr。
　　McLean，“isnocauseforextrapride。Shoo！IwasraisedinMassachusettsmyself，andbigmenhavebeenraisedthere，too，——DanielWebsterandIsraelPutnam:andalotofthempoliticians。“
　　“Virginiaisagoodlittleoldstate，“observedtheSoutherner。
　　“Bothof’em’sasightaheadofVermont。ShetoldmeIwasthefirstexceptionshe’dstruck。“
　　“Whatrulewereyouprovin’atthetime，Lin？“
　　“Wellyu’see，Istartedtokissher。“
　　“Yu’didn’t！“
　　“Shucks！Ididn’tmeannothin’。“
　　“Ireckonyu’stoppedmightysudden？“
　　“Why，I’dbeenridin’outwithher——ridin’toschool，ridin’fromschool，anda-comin’anda-goin’，andshechattin’cheerfulandaskin’meaheapo’questionsallaboutmyselfeveryday，andI
　　notlyin’muchneither。AndsoIfiguredshewouldn’tmind。Lotsof’emlikeit。Butshedidn’t，youbet！“
　　“No，“saidtheVirginian，deeplyproudofhisladywhohadslightedhim。Hehadpulledheroutofthewateronce，andhehadbeenherunrewardedknightevento-day，andhefelthisgrievance；buthespokenotofittoLin；forhefeltalso，inmemory，herarmsclingingroundhimashecarriedherashoreuponhishorse。Buthemuttered，“Plumbridiculous！“asherinjusticestruckhimafresh，whiletheoutragedMcLeantoldhistale。
　　“Trampleiswhatshehasdoneonmeto-night，andwithoutnotice。
　　Wewasstartin’tocomehere；TaylorandMrs。wereaheadinthebuggy，andIwasholdin’herhorse，andhelpin’herupinthesaddle，likeIdonefordaysanddays。Whowastheretoseeus？
　　AndIfiguredshe’dnotmind，andshecallsmeanexception！Yu’doughtto’vejustheardheraboutWesternmenrespectin’women。Sothat’sthelastwordwe’vespoke。Wecometwenty-fivemilesthen，shescootin’infront，andherhorsekickin’thesandinmyface。
　　Mrs。Taylor，sheguessedsomethingwasup，butshedidn’ttell。“
　　“MissWooddidnottell？“
　　“Notshe！She’llneveropenherhead。Shecantakecareofherself，youbet！“Thefiddlessoundedhilariouslyinthehouse，andthefeetalso。Theyhadwarmedupaltogether，andtheirdancingfigurescrossedthewindowsbackandforth。Thetwocow-punchersdrewneartoawindowandlookedinGloomily。
　　“Thereshegoes，“saidLin。
　　“WithUncleHugheyagain，“saidtheVirginian，sourly。“Yu’mightsupposehedidn’thaveawifeandtwins，toseethewayhegoesgambollin’around。
　　“Westfallistakin’aturnwithhernow，“saidMcLean。
　　“James！“exclaimedtheVirginian。“He’sanotherwithawifeandfam’ly，andhegetsthedancin’，too。“
　　“ThereshegoeswithTaylor，“saidLin，presently。
　　“Anothermarriedman！“theSouthernercommented。Theyprowledroundtothestore-room，andpassedthroughthekitchentowherethedancerswererobustlytramping。MissWoodwasstillthepartnerofMr。Taylor。“Let’shavesomewhiskey，“saidtheVirginian。Theyhadit，andreturned，andtheVirginian’sdisgustandsenseofinjurygrewdeeper。“OldCarmodyhasgothernow，“
　　hedrawled。“Hepolkaslikealandslide。Shelearnshismonkey-facedkidtospelldogandcowallthemawnin’。He’doughttobetuckedupcoseyinhisbedrightnow，oldCarmodyought。“
　　Theywerestandinginthatplacesetapartforthesleepingchildren；andjustatthismomentoneoftwobabiesthatwerestowedbeneathachairutteredadrowsynote。Amuchloudercry，indeedachorusoflament，wouldhavebeenneededtoreachtheearsoftheparentsintheroombeyond，suchwasthenoisyvolumeofthedance。ButinthisquietplacethelightsoundcaughtMr。
　　McLean’sattention，andheturnedtoseeifanythingwerewrong。
　　Butbothbabiesweresleepingpeacefully。
　　“Them’sUncleHughey’stwins，“hesaid。
　　“Howdoyouhappentoknowthat？“inquiredtheVirginian，suddenlyinterested。
　　“Sawhiswifeput’emunderthechairsoshecouldfind’emrightoffwhenshecometogohome。“
　　“Oh，“saidtheVirginian，thoughtfully。“Oh，find’emrightoff。
　　Yes。UncleHughey’stwins。“Hewalkedtoaspotfromwhichhecouldviewthedance。“Well，“hecontinued，returning，“theschoolmarmmusthavetakenquiteanotiontoUncleHughey。Hehasgotherforthisquadrille。“TheVirginianwasnowspeakingwithoutrancor；buthiswordscamewithaslightlyaugmenteddrawl，andthiswithhimwasoftenabadomen。Henoneturnedhiseyesuponthecollectedbabieswrappedinvariouscoloredshawlsandknittedwork。“Nine，ten，eleven，beautifulsleepin’
　　strangers，“hecounted，inasweetvoice。“Anyof’emyourn，Lin？“
　　“NotthatIknowof，“grinnedMr。McLean“Eleven，twelve。ThishyehislittleChristopherintheblue-stripequilt——ormaybethatotheryello’-headishim。TheangelshavecommencedtodropinonusrightsmartalongBearCreek，Lin。“
　　“Whattrashareyu’talkin’anyway？“
　　“Iftheylooksoawfulalikeintheheavenlygyarden，“thegentleSouthernercontinued，“I’djusthatetobethefolksthathasthecuttin’of’emouto’thegeneralherd。Andthat’sarightquaintnotiontoo，“headdedsoftly。“ThemunderthechairareUncleHughey’s，didn’tyoutellme？“Andstooping，heliftedthetorpidbabiesandplacedthembeneathatable。“No，thatain’tthorough，“hemurmured。Withwonderfuldexterityandsolicitudefortheirwellfare，heremovedtheloosewrapwhichwasaroundthem，andthissoonledtoanintricateprocessofexchange。ForamomentMr。McLeanhadbeenstaringattheVirginian，puzzled。
　　Then，withajoyfulyelpofenlightenment，hesprangtoabethim。
　　Andwhilebothbusiedthemselveswiththeshawlsandquilts，theunconsciousparentswentdancingvigorouslyon，andthesmall，occasionalcriesoftheirprogenydidnotreachthem。
　　TheSwintonbarbecuewasover。Thefiddlesweresilent，thesteerwaseaten，thebarrelemptied，orlargelyso，andthetapersextinguished；roundthehouseandsunkenfireallmovementofguestswasquiet；thefamilieswerelongdepartedhomeward，andaftertheirhospitableturbulence，theSwintonsslept。
　　Mr。andMrs。Westfalldrovethroughthenight，andastheynearedtheircabintherecamefromamongthebundledwrapsastill，smallvoice。
　　“Jim，“saidhiswife，“IsaidAlfredwouldcatchcold。“
　　“Bosh！Lizzie，don’tyoufret。He’salittlemorethanayearlin’，andofcoursehe’llsnuffle。“AndyoungJamestookakissfromhislove。
　　“Well，howyoucanspeakofAlfredthatway，callinghimayearling，asifhewasacalf，andhejustasmuchyourchildasmine，Idon’tsee，JamesWestfall！“
　　“Why，whatunderthesundoyoumean？“
　　“Therehegoesagain！Dohurryuphome，Jim。He’sgotarealstrangecough。“
　　Sotheyhurriedhome。Soontheninemileswerefinished，andgoodJameswasunhitchingbyhisstablelantern，whilehiswifeinthehousehastenedtocommittheiroffspringtobed。Thetraceshaddropped，andeachhorsemarchedforwardforfurtherunbuckling，whenJamesheardhimselfcalled。Indeed，therewasthatinhiswife’svoicewhichmadehimjerkouthispistolasheran。ButitwasnobearorIndian——onlytwostrangechildrenonthebed。Hiswifewasglaringatthem。
　　Hesighedwithreliefandlaiddownthepistol。
　　“Putthatonagain，JamesWestfall。You’llneedit。Lookhere！“
　　“Well，theywon’tbite。Whosearethey？Wherehaveyoustowedourn？“
　　“WherehaveI——“Utteranceforsookthismotherforamoment。“Andyouaskme！“shecontinued。“AskLinMcLean。Askhimthatsetsbullsonfolksandstealsslippers，whathe’sdonewithourinnocentlambs，mixingthemupwithotherpeople’scoughing，unhealthybrats。That’sCharlieTaylorinAlfred’sclothes，andI
　　knowAlfreddidn’tcoughlikethat，andIsaidtoyouitwasstrange；andtheotheronethat’sbeenputinChristopher’snewquiltsisnotevenabub——bub——boy！“
　　AsthiscrimeagainstsocietyloomedcleartoJamesWestfall’sunderstanding，hesatdownonthenearestpieceoffurniture，andheedlessofhiswife’stearsandhisexchangedchildren，brokeintounregeneratelaughter。Doubtlessafterhissharpalarmaboutthebear，hewasunstrung。Hislady，however，promptlyrestrunghim；andbythetimetheyhadrepackedthenowclamorouschangelings，andwererattlingontheirwaytotheTaylors’，hebegantoshareheroutragedfeelingsproperly，asahusbandandafathershould；butwhenhereachedtheTaylors’andlearnedfromMissWoodthatatthishouseachildhadbeenunwrappedwhomnobodycouldatallidentify，andthatMr。andMrs。TaylorwerealreadyfarontheroadtotheSwintons’，JamesWestfallwhippeduphishorsesandgrewalmostasthirstyforrevengeaswashiswife。
　　Wherethesteerhadbeenroasted，thepowderedasheswerenowcoldwhite，andMr。McLean，feelingthroughhisdreamsthechangeofdawncomeovertheair，satupcautiouslyamongtheoutdoorslumberersandwakedhisneighbor。
　　“Daywillbesoon，“hewhispered，“andwemustlightoutofthis。
　　Ineversuspicionedyu’hadthatmuchofthedevilinyoubefore。“
　　“Ireckonsomeofthefellowswillacthaidstrong，“theVirginianmurmuredluxuriously，amongthewarmthofhisblankets。
　　“Itellyu’wemustskip，“saidLin，forthesecondtime；andherubbedtheVirginian’sblackhead，whichalonewasvisible。
　　“Skip，then，you，“camemuffledfromwithin，“andkeepyou’selfmightysca’cetilltheycanappreciateourfrolic。“
　　TheSouthernerwithdrewdeeperintohisbed，andMr。McLean，informinghimthathewasafool，aroseandsaddledhishorse。
　　Fromthesaddle-bag，hebroughtaparcel，andlightlylayingthisbesideBokayBaldy，hemountedandwasgone。WhenBaldyawokelater，hefoundtheparceltobeapairoffloweryslippers。
　　InselectingtheinertVirginianasthefool，Mr。McLeanwasscarcelywise；itistheabsentwhoarealwaysguilty。
　　BeforeeverLincouldhavebeenamileinretreat，therattleofthewheelsrousedallofthem，andherecametheTaylors。BeforetheTaylors’knockinghadbroughttheSwintonstotheirdoor，otherwheelssounded，andherewereMr。andMrs。Carmody，andUncleHugheywithhiswife，andcloseafterthemMr。Dow，alone，whotoldhowhiswifehadgoneintooneofherfits——sheuponwhomDr。BarkeratDrybonehadenjoinedtotalabstinencefromallexcitement。Voicesofwomenandchildrenbegantobeuplifted；
　　theWestfallsarrivedinalather，andtheThomases；andbysunrise，whatwithfathersandmothersandspectatorsandloudoffspring，therewasgatheredsuchameetingashasseldombeenbeforeamongthegenerationsofspeakingmen。To-dayyoucanhearlegendsofitfromTexastoMontana；butIamgivingyouthefullparticulars。
　　OfcoursetheypitcheduponpoorLin。HerewastheVirginiandoinghisbest，holdinghorsesandhelpingladiesdescend，whilethenameofMcLeanbegantobemutteredwiththreats。SoonapartyledbyMr。Dowsetforthinsearchofhim，andtheSouthernerdebatedamomentifhehadbetternotputthemonawrongtrack。Butheconcludedthattheymightsafelygoonsearching。
　　Mrs。WestfallfoundChristopheratonceinthegreenshawlofAnnaMariaDow，butallwasnotachievedthusinthetwinklingofaneyeMr。McLeanhad，itappeared，asJamesWestfalllugubriouslypointedout，notmerely“swappedtheduds；hehadshuffledthewholedoggonedeck；“andtheycursedthisSatanicinvention。Thefatherswerebutofmoderateassistance；itwasthemotherswhodidtheheavywork；andbyteno’clocksomeunsolvedproblemsgrewsodelicatethataladies’caucuswasorganizedinaprivateroom，——noadmittanceformen，——andwhetwasdonethereIcanonlysurmise。
　　Duringitsprogressthesearchpartyreturned。IthadnotfoundMr。McLean。Ithadfoundatreewithanoticepeggeduponit，reading，“Godblessourhome！“Thiswascaptured。
　　Butsuccessattendedthecaucus；eachmotheremerged，satisfiedthatshehadreceivedherown，andeachsire，nowthathisfamilywasitselfagain，begantolookathisneighborsideways。Afteramanhasbeenangryenoughtokillanotherman，afterthefireofrighteousslaughterhasragedinhisheartasithadcertainlyragedforseveralhoursintheheartsofthesefathers，theflamewillusuallyburnitselfout。Thiswillbesoinagenerousnature，unlessthecauseoftheangerisstillunchanged。Butthechildrenhadbeenidentified；nonehadtakenhurt。Allhadbeenhumanelygiventheirnourishment。Thethingwasover。Thedaywasbeautiful。Atemptingfeastremainedfromthebarbecue。TheseBearCreekfatherscouldnotkeeptheirireatredheat。Mostofthem，beingasyetmoretheirwives’roversthantheirchildren’sparents，begantoseethemirthfulsideoftheadventure；andtheyceasedtofeelveryseverelytowardLinMcLean。
　　Notsothewomen。Theycriedforvengeance；buttheycriedinvain，andweremetwithsmiles。