Mother considered and said, "Twelve." He thought a dozen enough for anyone, and, said that HIS mother, when he left home, had twenty-one--all girls but him.

That was forty years ago, and he did n't know how many she had since.
Mother and Sal smiled.

They began to like old Casey.
Casey took up his hat and went outside, and did n't say "Good-day" or "Thanks" or anything.

He did n't go away, either.

He looked about the yard.