"
"Jest goin' round the country?" amended cousin Josiah, with the
preliminary insinuation Amelia knew so well. He was, it had been said,
in the habit of inventing lies, and challenging other folks to stick to
'em. But Enoch made no reply. He went soberly on with his work.
"Law, 'Melia, to think o' your bein' married," continued Josiah,
turning to her. "I never should ha' thought that o' you."
"I never thought it of myself," said Amelia tartly. "You don't know
what you'll do till you're tried."
"No! no!" said Josiah Pease. "Never in the world. You remember Sally
Flint, how plain-spoken she is? Well, Betsy Harden's darter Ann rode
down to the poor-house t'other day with some sweet trade, an' took a
young sprig with her. He turned his back a minute, to look out o'
winder, an' Sally spoke right up, as ye might say, afore him. 'That
your beau?' says she. Well, o' course Ann couldn't own it, an' him
right there, so to speak. So she shook her head. 'Well, I'm glad on
't,' says Sally. 'If I couldn't have anything to eat, I'd have suthin'
to look at!' He was the most unsignifyin'est creatur' you ever put your
eyes on. But they say Ann's started in on her clo'es."
Amelia's face had grown scarlet.
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