you don't seem so mighty glad to see your brother, either," he grumbled; and then cheering up again, "That's all right, boy. You 'll like me better, more ye see o' me. Everybody does. Say, I was afraid the' was n't nobody at home, anyway. Where's the old woman?"
Marden shot him a black look.
"If you mean our mother," said he, "she died while you were away."
Looking his elder brother square in the face, he read there a genuine surprise, which gave way to genuine dejection. At least, the gross joviality of the man oozed out of his hulking body, and he stood crestfallen, thumbing his pipe-bowl, and looking down at his feet, which were braced widely apart as if on shipboard.
"Well, now, that's noos for ye," said he, shaking his great head gloomily. "That's what I call downright noos for ye. Is that straight, Mard, boy? Well,—I swear! It don't seem possible. She was—It don't seem possible. Why, look a-here," he cried petulantly, "here was me a-thinkin' bow glad
