igs o' lilac all over
it, and lace in the neck, and angel sleeves that showed off her arms,
and her hair was twisted high up on her head, and a big
tortoise-shell comb in it. Jane Ann said she looked as pretty as a
picture; and jest as she come down the stairs, Harvey drove up with
Judge McGowan, and Mary walked out to give him a welcome, while Harvey
put away the buggy. Nobody had pleasanter ways than Mary Andrews. She
always had somethin' to say, and it was always the right thing to be
said, and in a minute her and the old judge was laughin' like they'd
known each other all their lives, and he had the children on his knees
trottin' 'em and tellin' 'em about his little girl and boy at home.

"Jane Ann said her greens was about done and she started to put on the
corn bread, but somethin' held her back. She knew corn bread and
greens wasn't a fit dinner for a stranger that had been invited there,
but of course she couldn't do anything without orders, and she was
standin' over the stove waitin' and wonderin', when Harvey, man-like,
walked in to see how dinner was gettin' on. Jane Ann said he looked at
the pot o' greens and the pan of corn bread batter, and he went into
the dinin'-room and saw the table all clean, but nothin' on it beyond
the ordinary, and his face looked like a thunder-cloud. And jest then
Mary come in all smilin', and the prettiest color in her cheeks, and
Harvey wheeled around and says he, 'What does this mean? Where's the
ham I told you to cook and all the rest o' the things I bought for
this dinner?'

"Jane Ann said the way he spoke and the look in his eyes would 'a'
frightened most any woman but Mary; she wasn't the kind to be
frightened. Jane Ann said she stood up straight, with her head thrown
back and still smilin', and her voice was as clear and sweet as if
she'd been sayin' somethin' pleasant. And she looked Harvey straight
in the eyes, and says she, 'It means, Harvey, that what's good enough
for us is good enough for your kin.' Jane Ann said that Harvey looked
at her a second as if he didn't understand, and then he give a start
as if he ricollected somethin', and it looked like all the blood in
his body rushed to his face, and he lifted one hand and opened his
mouth like he was goin' to speak. There they stood, lookin' at each
other, and Jane Ann said she never saw such a look pass between
husband and wife before or since. If either of 'em had dropped dead,
she said, it wouldn't 'a' seemed st