Countess is all right, and she certainly can cook! I admit she talks
consider'ble--"

Chip laughed grimly, and the Old Man subsided.

At the house a small, ginger-whiskered man came down to the gate to
greet them.

"Why, how--de-do! I couldn't make out who 't was comin', but Mary,
she up an' rek'nized the horses. Git right out an' come on in!
We've had our dinner, but I guess the wimmin folks can scare ye up a
bite uh suthin'. This yer sister? We heard she was up t' your place.
She the one that set one uh your horse's leg? Bill, he was tellin'
about it. I dunno as wimmin horse doctors is very common, but I
dunno why not. I get a horse with somethin' the matter of his foot,
and I dunno what. I'd like t' have ye take a look at it, fore ye go.
'Course, I expect t' pay ye."

The Old Man winked appreciatively at Chip before he came humanely to
the rescue and explained that his sister was not a horse doctor, and Mr.
Denson, looking very disappointed, reiterated his invitation to enter.

Mrs. Denson, a large woman who narrowly escaped being ginger-whiskered
like her husband, beamed upon them from the doorway.

"Come right on in! Louise, here's comp'ny! The house is all tore up--
we been tryin' t' clean house a little. Lay off yer things an' I'll
git yuh some dinner right away. I'm awful glad yuh come over--I do hate
t' see folks stand on cer'mony out here where neighbors is so skurce.
I guess yuh think we ain't been very neighborly, but we been tryin' t'