"Tain't my fault, Mis' Smith. I declare I'm too astonished to speak. You know I was a-standin' in my window, not a-thinkin' nor expectin' nothin', jest like any person would, you know—"
"Yes, yes; go on."
"I was jest a-lookin' down the street, careless, when who should I see drive up to Miss Prime's door, an hitch his hoss an' go in, but Brother 'Liphalet Hodges!"
"Well, sakes alive, Sallie Martin, I hope you ain't a-considerin' that strange. Why, you could 'a' seen that very same sight any time these fifteen years."
"But wait a minute till I tell you. I ain't done yit, by no means. The strange part 'ain't come. I thought I'd jest wait at the window and see how long Brother Hodges would stay: not that it was any o' my bus'ness, of course, or that I wanted to be a spyin' on anybody, but sorter fur— fur cur'osity, you know."
"Cert'n'y," said Mrs. Smith, feelingly. She could sympathise with such a sentiment.
"Well, after a while he come out a-smilin' as pleasant as a basket o' chips; an' I like to fell through the winder, fur he was a-leadin' by the hand—who do you suppose?"
