After a time she went over by the
fence, sat down on a stump and began to pluck flowers from the vines
that ran along the rails. Into the yard Kintchin came, singing; but when
he discovered Mrs. Mayfield he left off his half-dancing walk, began to
limp, and approaching her he said: "Ol' steer dun kicked me on de hip."
"I am sorry, Kintchin."
"Yas'm. But you ain't ha'f ez sorry ez I is. Never wuz kicked by er
steer, wuz you?"
"No, that's an experience that hasn't fallen to me."
"Wall, w'en it do fall you ain't gwine furgit it. Jest thought I'd drap
in an' rest er while," he continued, going over and seating himself on
the wood pile. "Dat dear ole mammy lef' me twenty dollars."
"Kind old soul, wasn't she?"
"Yas'm. An' dar ain't many folks dat lef' me twenty dollars w'en da
died. I's had er good many wives fust an' last, but I ain't neber
married no sich er 'oman ez dat."
"Then you have been married several times, have you, Kintchin?"
"Yas'm. Dar wuz my fust wife an' my fust step-wife, an'--"
"Your first step-wife?"
"Yas'm--stepped inter de place o' my fust wife.
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