sby says they haven't got a THING!
Just absolutely NOTHING--and they don't know anywhere to turn! The
family's all died out but them, and all the relatives they got are very
distant, and live East and scarcely know 'em. She says the whole town's
been wondering what WOULD become of 'em. The girl had plenty chances to
marry up to a year or so ago, but she was so indifferent she scared the
men off, and the ones that had wanted to went and married other girls.
Gracious! they were lucky! Marry HER? The man that found himself tied up
to THAT girl--"

"Terrible funny, terrible funny!" said Roscoe, with sarcasm. "It's so
funny I broke a cut-glass decanter and spilled a quart of--"

"Wait!" she begged. "You'll see. I was sitting by the window a little
while ago, and I saw a big wagon drive up across the street and some men
go into the house. It was too dark to make out much, and for a minute
I got the idea they were moving out--the house has been foreclosed on,
Mrs. Kittersby says. It seemed funny, too, because I knew that girl was
out riding with Bibbs. Well, I thought I'd see, so I slipped over--and
it was their PIANO! They'd sold it and were trying to sneak it out after
dark, so nobody'd catch on!" Again she gave way to her enjoyment, but
resumed, as her husband seemed about to interrupt the narrative. "Wait a
minute, can't you? The old lady was superintending, and she gave it all
away. I sized her up for one of those old churchy people that tell
all kinds of lies except when it comes to so many words, and then they
can't. She might just as well told me outright! Yes, they'd sold it;
and I hope they'll pay some of their debts. They owe everybody, and last
week a coal-dealer made an awful fuss at the door with Mr. Vertrees.
Their cook told our upstairs girl, and she said she didn't know WHEN
she'd seen any money, herself! Did you ever hear of such a case as that
girl in your LIFE?"

"What girl? Their cook?"

"That Vertrees girl! Don't you see they looked on our coming up into
this neighborhood as their last chance? They were just going down and
out, and here bobs up the green, rich Sheridan family! So they doll
the girl up in her old things, made over, and send her out to get a
Sheridan--she's GOT to get one! And she just goes in blind; and she
tries it on first with YOU. You remember, she just plain TOLD you she
was going to mash you, and then she found out you were the married one,
and turned right square around to Jim a