"Wall, I fancy she does," replied Mrs. Hawkins; "and I've no objections
to him, seein' as that Mr. Sawyer is goin' to put him inter the grocery
store and back him up. But Mandy says that he won't come to the pi'nt.
He hints and hints and wobbles all 'round the question, but he don't ask
her to marry him right out and out. Mandy says she won't gin in until he
does, for if she does, she says he'll be chuckin' it at her one of these
days that he didn't ask her to marry him and be sayin' as how she threw
herself at him, but there's too much of the old Job Skinner spirit in
Mandy for her to do anythin' like that."
At this moment Mrs. Hawkins looked up and saw Hiram Maxwell standing in
the half-open doorway that led into the wood-shed.
"List'ners never hear any good of themselves," remarked Mrs. Hawkins, as
Hiram advanced into the room.
"I didn't hear nothin'," said Hiram. "I've got too many things in my
head to tell yer to mind any women's talk," he continued.
"What is it?" cried Mrs. Hawkins and Betsy simultaneously.
"Well, fust," said Hiram, "early this mornin' your sister Samanthy,"
here he looked at Betsy, "came tearin' down to Deacon Mason's house
and said as how Mis' Hepsey Putnam was powerful bad, and she wanted me
to run down to 'Zeke Pettengill's and have him bring his sister right up
to the house, 'cause Mis' Putnam wanted to see her afore she died, and
the Deacon's wife said as how I could go up with him and her, and so we
druv up, and a little while ago your sister Samanthy," here he looked at
Betsy again, "asked me if I'd drive over and ask Mis' Hawkins if you,"
here he looked at Betsy for the third time, "could come up and stay with
her this arternoon, for she thinks Mis' Putnam is goin' to die, and she
don't want to be left alone up in that big house.
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