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reception in honor of the twins； and at the close of it the gifted
〃freak〃 captured everybody's admiration by sitting down at the piano and
knocking out a classic four…handed piece in great style。 Then the judge
took itor themdriving in his buggy and showed off his village。＇
All along the streets the people crowded the windows and stared at the
amazing twins。 Troops of small boys flocked after the buggy； excited and
yelling。 At first the dogs showed no interest。 They thought they merely
saw three men in a buggya matter of no consequence； but when they found
out the facts of the case； they altered their opinion pretty radically；
and joined the boys； expressing their minds as they came。 Other dogs got
interested； indeed； all the dogs。 It was a spirited sight to see them
come leaping fences； tearing around corners； swarming out of every
bystreet and alley。 The noise they made was something beyond belief
or praise。 They did not seem to be moved by malice but only by
prejudice； the common human prejudice against lack of conformity。 If the
twins turned their heads； they broke and fled in every direction； but
stopped at a safe distance and faced about； and then formed and came on
again as soon as the strangers showed them their back。 Negroes and
farmers' wives took to the woods when the buggy came upon them suddenly；
and altogether the drive was pleasant and animated； and a refreshment all
around。
＇It was a long and lively drive。 Angelo was a Methodist； Luigi was
a Free…thinker。 The judge was very proud of his Freethinkers'
Society； which was flourishing along in a most prosperous way and
already had two membershimself and the obscure and neglected
Pudd'nhead Wilson。 It was to meet that evening； and he invited
Luigi to join； a thing which Luigi was glad to do； partly because it
would please himself； and partly because it would gravel Angelo。＇
They had now arrived at the widow's gate； and the excursion was ended。
The twins politely expressed their obligations for the pleasant outing
which had been afforded them； to which the judge bowed his thanks；
and then said he would now go and arrange for the Free…thinkers' meeting；
and would call for Count Luigi in the evening。
〃For you also； dear sir；〃 he added hastily； turning to Angelo and bowing。
〃In addressing myself particularly to your brother； I was not meaning to
leave you out。 It was an unintentional rudeness； I assure you； and due
wholly to accidentaccident and preoccupation。 I beg you to forgive
me。〃
His quick eye had seen the sensitive blood mount into Angelo's face；
betraying the wound that had been inflicted。 The sting of the slight had
gone deep； but the apology was so prompt； and so evidently sincere； that
the hurt was almost immediately healed； and a forgiving smile testified
to the kindly judge that all was well again。
Concealed behind Angelo's modest and unassuming exterior； and unsuspected
by any but his intimates； was a lofty pride； a pride of almost abnormal
proportions； indeed； and this rendered him ever the prey of slights； and
although they were almost always imaginary ones； they hurt none the less
on that account。 By ill fortune judge Driscoll had happened to touch his
sorest point； i。e。； his conviction that his brother's presence was
welcomer everywhere than his own； that he was often invited； out of mere
courtesy； where only his brother was wanted； and that in a majority of
cases he would not be included in an invitation if he could be left out
without offense。 A sensitive nature like this is necessarily subject to
moods； moods which traverse the whole gamut of feeling； moods which know
all the climes of emotion； from the sunny heights of joy to the black
abysses of despair。 At times； in his seasons of deepest depressions；
Angelo almost wished that he and his brother might become segregated from
each other and be separate individuals； like other men。 But of course as
soon as his mind cleared and these diseased imaginings passed away； he
shuddered at the repulsive thought； and earnestly prayed that it might
visit him no more。 To be separate； and as other men are！ How awkward it
would seem； how unendurable。 What would he do with his hands； his arms？
How would his legs feel？ How odd； and strange； and grotesque every
action； attitude； movement； gesture would be。 To sleep by himself； eat
by himself； walk by himselfhow lonely； how unspeakably lonely！ No； no；
any fate but that。 In every way and from every point； the idea was
revolting。
This was of course natural； to have felt otherwise would have been
unnatural。 He had known no life but a combined one； he had been familiar
with it from his birth； he was not able to conceive of any other as being
agreeable； or even bearable。 To him； in the privacy of his secret
thoughts； all other men were monsters； deformities： and during
three…fourths of his life their aspect had filled him with what promised
to be an unconquerable aversion。 But at eighteen his eye began to take
note of female beauty； and little by little； undefined longings grew up
in his heart； under whose softening influences the old stubborn aversion
gradually diminished； and finally disappeared。 Men were still
monstrosities to him； still deformities； and in his sober moments he had
no desire to be like them； but their strange and unsocial and uncanny
construction was no longer offensive to him。
This had been a hard day for him； physically and mentally。 He had been
called in the morning before he had quite slept off the effects of the
liquor which Luigi had drunk； and so； for the first half…hour had had the
seedy feeling； and languor； the brooding depression； the cobwebby mouth
and druggy taste that come of dissipation and are so ill a preparation
for bodily or intellectual activities； the long violent strain of the
reception had followed； and this had been followed； in turn； by the
dreary sight…seeing； the judge's wearying explanations and laudations of
the sights； and the stupefying clamor of the dogs。 As a congruous
conclusion； a fitting end； his feelings had been hurt； a slight had been
put upon him。 He would have been glad to forego dinner and betake
himself to rest and sleep； but he held his peace and said no word； for he
knew his brother； Luigi； was fresh； unweary； full of life； spirit；
energy； he would have scoffed at the idea of wasting valuable time on a
bed or a sofa； and would have refused permission。
CHAPTER IV
SUPERNATURAL CHRONOMETRY
Rowena was dining out； Joe and Harry were belated at play； there were but
three chairs and four persons that noon at the home dinner…table
the twins； the widow； and her chum； Aunt Betsy Hale。 The widow soon
perceived that Angelo's spirits were as low as Luigi's were high； and
also that he had a jaded look。 Her motherly solicitude was aroused； and
she tried to get him interested in the talk and win him to a happier
frame of mind； but the cloud of sadness remained on his countenance。
Luigi lent his help； too。 He used a form and a phrase which he was
always accustomed to employ in these circumstances。 He gave his brother
an affectionate slap on the shoulder and said； encouragingly：
〃Cheer up； the worst is yet to come！〃
But this did no good。 It never did。 If anything； it made the matter
worse； as a rule； because it irritated Angelo。 This made it a favorite
with Luigi。 By and by the widow said：
〃Angelo； you are tired； you've overdone yourself； you go right to bed
after dinner； and get a good nap and a rest； then you'll be all right。〃
〃Indeed； I would give anything if I could do that； madam。〃
〃And what's to hender； I'd like to know？ Land； the room's yours to do
what you please with！ The idea that you can't do what you like with your
own！〃
〃But； you see； there's one prime essentialan essential of the very
first importance which isn't my own。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃My body。〃
The old ladies looked puzzled； and Aunt Betsy Hale said：
〃Why bless your heart； how is that？〃
〃It's my brother's。〃
〃Your brother's！ I don't quite understand。 I supposed it belonged to
both of you。〃
〃So it does。 But not to both at the same time。〃
〃That is mighty curious； I don't see how it can be。 I shouldn't think it
could be managed that way。〃
〃Oh； it's a good enough arrangement； and goes very well； in fact； it
wouldn't do to have it otherwise。 I find that the teetotalers and the
anti…teetotalers hire the use of the same hall for their meetings。 Both
parties don't use it at the same time； do they？〃
〃You bet they don't！〃 said both old ladies in a breath。
〃And； moreover；〃 said Aunt Betsy； 〃the Freethinkers and the Baptist Bible
class use the same room over the Market house； but you can take my word
for it they don't mush up together and use it at the same time。'
〃Very well；〃 said Angelo； 〃you understand it now。 And it stands to
reason that the arrangement couldn't be improved。 I'll prove it to you。
If our legs tried to obey two wills； how could we ever get anywhere？
I would start one way； Luigi would start another； at the same moment
the result would be a standstill； wouldn't it？〃
〃As sure