"I 'ain't got a mortal idea who," said Mrs. Smith, "unless it was Miss Hester, an' they're married at last."
"No, indeed, 't wa'n't her. It was that little Brent boy that his mother died the other day."
"Sallie Martin, what air you a-tellin' me?"
"It's the gospel truth, Melviny Smith, as shore as I'm a-settin' here. Now what does it mean?"
"The good Lord only knows. Leadin' that little Brent boy? Ef it wasn't you a-settin' there tellin' me this, Mis' Martin, I wouldn't believe it. You don't suppose Hodges has took him to raise, do you?"
"How in the name of mercy is he goin' to raise any child, when there ain't no women folks about his house 'ceptin' old Marier, an' she so blind an' rheumaticky that she kin sca'cely git about?"
"Well, what's he a-doin' with the child, then?"
"That 's jest what I'm a-goin' to find out. I'm a-goin' down to Miss Prime's. Len' me yore shawl, Melviny."
"You ain't never goin' to dare to ask her, air you?"
