n with the pleasant
meal all ready, he felt as if he should like to stay to tea instead of
going home.

"Yes, it's the sugar, sir, I know; and you'd think it would sweeten some
people's temper, but it don't."

"Which if it's me you mean, and you're thinking of this morning--"

"Which I am, Jem, and you ought to be ashamed. You grumbled over your
breakfast, and you reg'larly worried your dinner, and all on account of
a button."

"Well, then, you should sew one on. When a man's married he does expect
to find buttons on his clean shirts."

"Yes, and badly enough you want 'em, making 'em that sticky as you do."

"I can't help that; it's only sugar."

"Only sugar indeed! And if it was my last words I'd say it--there _was_
a button on the neck."

"Well, I know that," cried Jem; "and what's the good of a button being
on, if it comes off directly you touch it? Is it any good, Mas' Don?"

"Oh, don't ask me," cried the lad, half-amused, half annoyed, and
wishing they'd ask him to tea.

"He dragged it off, Master Don."

"I didn't."

"You did, Jem, and you know you did, just to aggravate me."

"Wasn't half sewn on."

"It was. I can't sew your buttons on with copper wire."

"You two are just like a girl and boy," cried Don. "Here you have
everything comfortable about you, and a good place, and you're always
quarrelling."

"Well, it's his fault, sir."

"No, sir, it's her'n."

"It's both your faults, and you ought to be ashamed of yourselves."

"I'm not," said Sally; "and I wish I'd never seen him."

"And I'm sure I wish the same," said Jem despondently. "I never see
such a temper."

"There, Master Don," cried the droll-looking little Dutch doll of a
woman. "That's how he is always going on."

"There, Jem, now you've made your poor little wife cry. You are the
most discontented fellow I ever saw."

"Come, I like that, Master Don; you've a deal to brag about, you have.
Why, you're all at sixes and sevens at home."

This was such a home thrust that Don turned angrily and walked out of
the place.

"There!" cried Sally. "I always knew how it would be. Master Don was
the best friend we had, and now you've offended him, and driven him
away."

"Shouldn't ha' said nasty things then," grumbled Jem, sitting down and
attacking his tea.

"Now he'll go straight to his uncle and tell him what a man you are."

"Let him," said Jem, with his mouth full of bread and butter.

"And of course you'll lose