th. 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?"

"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 was n't
you a-settin' there tellin' me this, Mis' Martin, I would n'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?"

"You jest trust me to find things out without givin' myself away. I
won't never let her know what I want right out, but I 'll talk it out o'
her."

"What a woman you air, Sallie Martin!" said Mrs. Smith, admiringly. "But
do hurry back an' tell me what she says: I 'm jest dyin' to know."

"I 'll be back in little or no time, because I can't stay, nohow."

Mrs. Martin threw the borrowed shawl over h