How air you goin' to understand a critter that don't
understand herse'f? But I tell you this here Miz Mayfield is
smart--talks like a new book that's got picturs in it."
"Oh! Then I reckon I can't talk at all."
"Have you hearn anybody hint that you can't talk? Did you ever notice
that when a man begins to talk about a woman, makes no diffunce who, his
wife puts it up that he's a talkin' about her? Did you?"
"No, nor you nuther. Gracious above!--book with picturs in it! But if
Jim wants to marry her, why don't he say so? What do he want allus to
be a steppin' round her skirts like a frost-bit chicken?"
"Wall, he ain't had time to ax her yit. It took the gospel mo' than a
thousand years to reach America, an' we oughtn't to expect preachers to
be in a rush."
She scowled at him and he went away, laughing, and she stood in the
door, shading her eyes with her hand, watching Tom and Lou as slowly
they walked down the road. Over to the right, in the dazzle of the sun,
Jim and Mrs. Mayfield were climbing a hill; and reaching the top, she
sat down on a rock and bade him sit near her, but he shook his head and
said that he preferred to stand where he was, and then, realizing that
his remark was abrupt, sat down by her and was silent.
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