"All your life," said Mr. Omer. "I may say before it. I knew your father before you. He was five foot nine and a half, and he lays in five and twen-ty foot of ground."
"RAT--tat-tat, RAT--tat-tat, RAT--tat-tat," across the yard.
"He lays in five and twen-ty foot of ground, if he lays in a fraction," said Mr. Omer, pleasantly. "It was either his request or her direction, I forget which."
"Do you know how my little brother is, sir?" I inquired.
"RAT--tat-tat, RAT--tat-tat, RAT--tat-tat."
"Don't mind it more than you can help," said Mr. Omer. "Yes. The baby's dead."
My wounds broke out afresh at this intelligence. I left the scarcely-tasted breakfast, and went and rested my head on another table in a corner of the little room, which Minnie hastily cleared, lest I should spot the mourning that was lying there with my tears. She was a pretty good-natured girl, and put my hair away from my eyes with a soft kind touch; but she was very cheerful at having nearly finished her work and being in good time, and was so different from me!
Presently the tune left off, and a good-looking young fellow came across the yard into the room. He had a hammer in his hand, and his mouth was full of little nails, which he was obliged to take out before he could speak.
"Well, Joram!" said Mr. Omer. "How do _you_ get on?"
Minnie colored a little, and the other two girls smiled at one another.
"What! you were at it by candle-light last night, when I was at the club, then? Were you?" said Mr. Omer, shutting up one eye.
"Yes," said Joram. "As you said we could make a little trip of it, and go over together, if it was done, Minnie and me--and you."
"Oh! I thought you were going to leave me out altogether," said Mr. Omer, laughing till he coughed.
"--As you was so good as to say that," resumed the young man, "why I turned to with a will, you see. Will you give me your opinion of it?"
"I will," said Mr. Omer, rising. "My dear;" and he stopped and turned to me; "would you like to see your----"
"I thought it might be agreeable, my dear," said Mr. Omer. "But perhaps you're right."
I can't say how I knew it was my dear, dear mother's coffin that they went to look at. I had never heard one making; I had never seen one that I know of: but it came into my mind what the noise was, while it was going on; and when the young man entered, I am sure I knew what he had been doing.