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my long life and never had the grace to thank the good Lord that gave it
to me！〃
Tears stood in the eyes of both the old ladies and the widow said；
softly：
〃Betsy Hale； we have learned something； you and me。〃
The conversation now drifted wide； but by and by floated back once more
to that admired detail； the rigid and beautiful impartiality with which
the possession of power had been distributed； between the twins。 Aunt
Betsy saw in it a far finer justice than human law exhibits in related
cases。 She said：
〃In my opinion it ain't right no； and never has been right； the way a
twin born a quarter of a minute sooner than the other one gets all the
land and grandeurs and nobilities in the old countries and his brother
has to go bare and be a nobody。 Which of you was born first？〃
Angelo's head was resting against Luigi's； weariness had overcome him；
and for the past five minutes he had been peacefully sleeping。 The old
ladies had dropped their voices to a lulling drone； to help him to steal
the rest his brother wouldn't take him up…stairs to get。 Luigi listened
a moment to Angelo's regular breathing； then said in a voice barely
audible：
〃We were both born at the same time； but I am six months older than he
is。〃
〃For the land's sake！〃
〃'Sh！ don't wake him up； he wouldn't like my telling this。 It has
always been kept secret till now。〃
〃But how in the world can it be？ If you were both born at the same time；
how can one of you be older than the other？〃
〃It is very simple； and I assure you it is true。 I was born with a full
crop of hair； he was as bald as an egg for six months。 I could walk six
months before he could make a step。 I finished teething six months ahead
of him。 I began to take solids six months before he left the breast。
I began to talk six months before he could say a word。 Last； and
absolutely unassailable proof； the sutures in my skull closed six months
ahead of his。 Always just that six months' difference to a day。 Was
that accident？ Nobody is going to claim that； I'm sure。 It was ordained
it was law it had its meaning； and we know what that meaning was。 Now
what does this overwhelming body of evidence establish？ It establishes
just one thing； and that thing it establishes beyond any peradventure
whatever。 Friends； we would not have it known for the world； and I must
beg you to keep it strictly to yourselves； but the truth is； we are no
more twins than you are。〃
The two old ladies were stunned； paralyzed…petrified； one may almost say
and could only sit and gaze vacantly at each other for some moments；
then Aunt Betsy Hale said impressively：
〃There's no getting around proof like that。 I do believe it's the most
amazing thing I ever heard of。〃 She sat silent a moment or two and
breathing hard with excitement； then she looked up and surveyed the
strangers steadfastly a little while； and added： 〃Well； it does beat me；
but I would have took you for twins anywhere。〃
〃So would I； so would I；〃 said Aunt Patsy with the emphasis of a
certainty that is not impaired by any shade of doubt。
〃Anybody would…anybody in the world； I don't care who he is；〃 said Aunt
Betsy with decision。
〃You won't tell；〃 said Luigi； appealingly。
〃Oh； dear； no！〃 answered both ladies promptly； 〃you can trust us； don't
you be afraid。〃
〃That is good of you； and kind。 Never let on； treat us always as if we
were twins。〃
〃You can depend on us；〃 said Aunt Betsy； 〃but it won't be easy； because
now that I know you ain't you don't seem so。〃
Luigi muttered to himself with satisfaction： 〃That swindle has gone
through without change of cars。〃
It was not very kind of him to load the poor things up with a secret like
that； which would be always flying to their tongues' ends every time they
heard any one speak of the strangers as twins； and would become harder
and harder to hang on to with every recurrence of the temptation to tell
it； while the torture of retaining it would increase with every new
strain that was applied； but he never thought of that； and probably would
not have worried much about it if he had。
A visitor was announcedsome one to see the twins。 They withdrew to the
parlor； and the two old ladies began to discuss with interest the strange
things which they had been listening to。 When they had finished the
matter to their satisfaction； and Aunt Betsy rose to go； she stopped to
ask a question：
〃How does things come on between Roweny and Tom Driscoll？〃
〃Well； about the same。 He writes tolerable often； and she answers
tolerable seldom。〃
〃Where is he？〃
〃In St。 Louis； I believe； though he's such a gadabout that a body can't
be very certain of him； I reckon。〃
〃Don't Roweny know？〃
〃Oh； yes； like enough。 I haven't asked her lately。〃
〃Do you know how him and the judge are getting along now？〃
〃First rate； I believe。 Mrs。 Pratt says so； and being right in the
house； and sister to the one and aunt to t'other； of course she ought to
know。 She says the judge is real fond of him when he's away； but frets
when he's around and is vexed with his ways； and not sorry to have him go
again。 He has been gone three weeks this timea pleasant thing for both
of them； I reckon。〃
〃Tom's rather harum…scarum； but there ain't anything bad in him； I
guess。〃
〃Oh； no； he's just young； that's all。 Still； twenty…three is old； in one
way。 A young man ought to be earning his living by that time。 If Tom
were doing that； or was even trying to do it； the judge would be a heap
better satisfied with him。 Tom's always going to begin； but somehow he
can't seem to find just the opening he likes。〃
〃Well； now； it's partly the judge's own fault。 Promising the boy his
property wasn't the way to set him to earning a fortune of his own。 But
what do you think is Roweny beginning to lean any toward him； or ain't
she？〃
Aunt Patsy had a secret in her bosom； she wanted to keep it there； but
nature was too strong for her。 She drew Aunt Betsy aside； and said in
her most confidential and mysterious manner：
〃Don't you breathe a syllable to a soulI'm going to tell you something。
In my opinion Tom Driscoll's chances were considerable better yesterday
than they are to…day。〃
〃Patsy Cooper； what do you mean？〃
〃It's so； as sure as you're born。 I wish you could 'a' been at breakfast
and seen for yourself。〃
〃You don't mean it！〃
〃Well； if I'm any judge； there's a leaningthere's a leaning； sure。〃
〃My land！ Which one of 'em is it？〃
〃I can't say for certain； but I think it's the youngest oneAnjy。〃
Then there were hand…shakings； and congratulations； and hopes； and so on；
and the old ladies parted； perfectly happythe one in knowing something
which the rest of the town didn't； and the other in having been the sole
person able to furnish that knowledge。
The visitor who had called to see the twins was the Rev。 Mr。 Hotchkiss；
pastor of the Baptist church。 At the reception Angelo had told him he
had lately experienced a change in his religious views； and was now
desirous of becoming a Baptist； and would immediately join Mr。
Hotchkiss's church。 There was no time to say more； and the brief talk
ended