"Let me see it."

"No, no!"

"Just let me see it," said Dick, kneeling on the other side: and after
some hesitation she pressed down her lip with one finger to show the
place. "O, I hope 'twill soon be better! I don't mind a sting in
ordinary places, but it is so bad upon your lip," she added with tears in
her eyes, and writhing a little from the pain.

Shiner held the light above his head and pushed his face close to
Fancy's, as if the lip had been shown exclusively to himself, upon which
Dick pushed closer, as if Shiner were not there at all.

"It is swelling," said Dick to her right aspect.

"It isn't swelling," said Shiner to her left aspect.

"Is it dangerous on the lip?" cried Fancy. "I know it is dangerous on
the tongue."

"O no, not dangerous!" answered Dick.

"Rather dangerous," had answered Shiner simultaneously.

"I must try to bear it!" said Fancy, turning again to the hives.

"Hartshorn-and-oil is a good thing to put to it, Miss Day," said Shiner
with great concern.

"Sweet-oil-and-hartshorn I've found to be a good thing to cure stings,
Miss Day," said Dick with greater concern.

"We have some mixed indoors; would you kindly run and get it for me?" she
said.

Now, whether by inadvertence, or whether by mischievous intention, the
individuality of the you was so carelessly denoted that both Dick and
Shiner sprang to their feet like twin acrobats, and marched abreast to
the door; both seized the latch and lifted it, and continued marching on,
shoulder to shoulder, in the same manner to the dwelling-house. Not only
so, but entering the room, they marched as before straight up to Mrs.
Day's chair, letting the door in the oak partition slam so forcibly, that
the rows of pewter on the dresser rang like a bell.

"Mrs. Day, Fancy has stung her lip, and wants you to give me the
hartshorn, please," said Mr. Shiner, very close to Mrs. Day's face.

"O, Mrs. Day, Fancy has asked me to bring out the hartshorn, please,
because she has stung her lip!" said Dick, a little closer to Mrs. Day's
face.

"Well, men alive! that's no reason why you should eat me, I suppose!"
said Mrs. Day, drawing back.

She searched in the corner-cupboard, produced the bottle, and began to
dust the cork, the rim, and every other part very carefully, Dick's hand
and Shiner's hand waiting side by side.

"Which is head man?" said Mrs. Day. "Now, don't come mumbudgeting so
close again. Which is head man?"

Neither spoke