He had not refined susceptibilities which sought immediate relief from the dreadful pictures he had suggested, nor did he at all comprehend that her rippling smile was hysterical.

"I don't see anything droll about it, sister," he said sulkily.
"Don't you?
Now, it all seems to me very droll--you splashing along there barefoot, why" (she drew back a little to get the better view, laughing excitedly), "you've no idea how ridiculous you look; and Mrs.
Halsey stalking along like a dignified ghost, afraid that you and I will kiss one another if we take to whispering, and this woman dying here with her head resting on a sack of potatoes, and the impudent little person you've just christened intruding herself upon the world only to go out of it again, and all these fine people in Missouri rubbing their hands and thinking they have done such a noble deed.

I think," she added, laughing more loudly, "that they are the drollest part of it all." "This nation will find that there's a sequel to it that they won't laugh at." These words of Darling came from some region underneath that of his ordinary conversation, as a man takes a dagger from under his cloak and lets it flash ere he hides it again.

"The government of these United States that has laughed at our sufferings will rue the day." "Even your saying that is very droll, but I love you for it." Elvira lifted both her hands as if testifying to her own sincerity.

"I love you for it." The elder thought it needful here to be again jocose.