WHICH IS WHICH?
Mr. Lockwood had a habit of getting out of difficulties in this way. He
frequently "washed his hands" of affairs, finding that they adjusted
themselves somehow without his aid, after all.
But on this present occasion there was, perhaps, a special reason why he
should tell his sister to go ahead, and leave the matter entirely with
her and the twins themselves. Aunt Dora claimed to be able to tell the
girls apart--something that nobody, not even Mrs. Betsey, had been able
to do since they were little tots and Dora had worn a blue ribbon on her
wrist, and Dorothy a pink.
The twins, who had heard all the foregoing conversation, and understood
the situation thoroughly, advanced when their Aunt Dora turned to meet
them.
"Kiss me, my dears," commanded the militant lady, opening her arms.
"Dora, first!"
But the twins ran in together and one kissed her on one cheek while the
other placed her salute on the other--and at exactly the same moment.
Aunt Dora adjusted her eyeglasses, stood off a yard or so, and stared at
the girls.
"Dora," she said, solemnly, "you are going home with me."
Neither girls changed color, or showed in the least that the
announcement was either a pleasant one, or vice versa.
"Do you hear?" demanded their aunt.
"Yes, ma'am," they replied, in chorus.
"I spoke to Dora," said the lady, firmly.
Not a word said the twins.
"Which is which, Dora?" asked Mr. Lockwood, from the background, and
perhaps enjoying his sister's discomfiture. "I declare nobody in _this_
house has been able to tell them apart since they were in their crib.
Mrs. Betsey declares she believes they used to exchange ribbons when
they were toddlers, for she used to find the bows tied in funny knots."
The two girls looked at each other with dancing eyes, but said nothing.
It had been their sport all their lives to mystify people about their
several identities. And here was a situation in which they
determined--both of them--to keep their aunt guessing.
"This is no matter for flippancy," said Aunt Dora, sternly. "I intend to
take my namesake home with me, and to bring her up, educate her, and
finally share my fortune with her. Do you understand this fully?"
"Yes, ma'am," replied the twins.
"I am speaking to Dora," their aunt said tartly.
The girls were silent.
"I am separating Dora from her sister for her own good. As you girls
grow older you will find that the income your father has remaining will
barely support one girl in a proper manner. To divide his responsibility
is a kindness to him----"
"That is not so," interjected the mild Mr. Lockwood. "You are more than
welcome, girls, to all I have. And--possibly--I might look about and get
a little more money for you to use, as time goes on. If you need it----"
"We know all about it, Papa," chimed the twins. "We are satisfied."
"Does that mean you are satisfied to remain here, Dora?" demanded their
aunt, insisting upon speaking as though but one girl heard her.
"We are both satisfied," chorused the twins, quickly.
"But I am _not_ satisfied with the affair," declared Aunt Dora. "It has
long been both my intention and desire to take my namesake--my
godchild--away from here. While you two girls were small it was all very
well to declare it cruel to separate you. But you are old enough
now----"
"We shall never be old enough, Auntie, to wish to be separated," said
one of the twins.
"Nonsense, child!" exclaimed Aunt Dora, her eyes sparkling as she
thought she had at last obtained an inkling to the identity of the two
girls. "You will soon get over all that, Dora--of course you will."
"I am sure I should not so soon get over separation from my sister,"
said the other girl.
Her aunt wheeled on this one. "Do you mean to tell me that you scorn my
offer?"
"If I were Dora I should beg to be excused," returned the niece to whom
she had spoken.
Aunt Dora whirled again and transfixed the other with decided
satisfaction and a sparkling eye.
"But Dora, I feel sure, will go with her aunt gladly," cried the lady.
"If I were Dora I should beg to be excused," repeated the girl at whom
she looked, in exactly the same tone, and with an unmoved countenance,
too.
"I declare!" gasped Aunt Dora, in complete exasperation. "You've managed
to get me puzzled, now. Which--which of you is t'other?"
"That is for you to find out, Auntie," said both girls in unison.
"You saucy minxes!" began the lady, but one of the girls said, quickly:
"Oh, no. We don't mean to be saucy. But we have agreed not to tell on
the other. Father leaves it to us and to you, Auntie. Neither of us wish
to leave our dear, dear home. Therefore we shall not tell you which is
Dora, and which is Dorothy."
"That is quite true, Auntie," said the other twin.
"Well, I declare to Nature!" exclaimed their Aunt "Here I come offering
Dora everything that a girl of her age should count as worthy--a home of
wealth, a better education than she can get here in Centerport--college
to follow--the open sesame into society--real society----And do you two
girls mean to tell me that neither will say which is Dora?"
"That is exactly what we have agreed upon," said one of the twins,
quietly.
"Then, let me tell you, Miss, I shall find out for myself!" exclaimed
the angry lady. "I consider you at fault for this, Lemuel. Shows your
bringing up. It is sheer impudence!"
"I--I have washed my hands of it, Dora," said her brother, weakly.
"Well, you can wipe 'em, too!" snapped the lady. "But I mean to take
Dora home with me when I go back--and that will be very soon," and she
whisked away in her rustling skirts, leaving the father and his two
daughters alone.
They twined around the little man in a moment, the two winsome, loving
girls--one upon one side, the other upon the other.
"You don't want to lose Dora, do you, dear?" demanded Dorothy.
"Nor Dorothy either?" demanded Dora.
"I certainly do not, my dear girls," cried the much harassed Mr.
Lockwood.
"Then we shall not tell her. We shall tell nobody. Nobody shall know
which is which--as long as Aunt Dora remains, that is sure," cried Dora.
"Exactly," agreed her sister. "As long as papa doesn't wish us to
go----?"
"Never!" declared Mr. Lockwood.
"Why, we're never even going to get married!" ejaculated the other twin.
"Of course not," said her sister. "There couldn't possibly be two men
just alike, and they'd have to be just alike to please us for husbands."
Mr. Lockwood laughed. It was the first happy sound he had made in two
hours. His sister had arrived exactly two hours before.
"I know I can safely leave the whole affair to you girls," he said,
gratefully. "Have it out with your auntie, if you must. But do, _do_
leave me in peace."