want to know
the end 's Mrs. Jilkins made. 'N' there 's lots o' people 's ain't had
no chance yet to ask me if it's true about you 'n' the deacon."

"When's he a-com--?" Mrs. Lathrop asked.

"On the five-o'clock; 'n' he said 's he sh'd come straight up here to
settle it all. I s'pose you 've turned the subjeck round an' round 'n'
upside down till you 've come out jus' where I said you would at first."

"I guess I'll take--"

"I would 'f I was you. Mr. Kimball says Deacon White 's as good help 's
any woman can hope to get hold o' in a place this size, an' I guess he
's hit that nail square on top. I don't see but what, when all's said
an' done, you can really take a deal o' comfort havin' him so handy. He
likes to keep things clean, 'n' you 'll never let him get a chance to go
to Satan emptyhanded. 'N' we can always send him to bed when we want to
talk, 'cause bein' 's he 'll be your husband, we won't never have to
fuss with considerin' his feelin's any."

"I--" said Mrs. Lathrop, thoughtfully.

"O' course there would n't be nothin' very romantic in marryin' the
deacon; 'n' yet, when you come right square down to it, I don't see no
good 'n' sufficient reasons for long hair bein' romantic an' big ears
not. Anyway, I sh'd consider 't a man 's can clean a sink, 'n' _will_
clean a sink, was a sight safer to marry 'n one 's whose big hit was
standin' up the ends o' his mustache. 'N' besides, you can have the man
with the sink, 'n' the man with the mustache would n't even turn round
to look at you the first time."

"I--" said Mrs. Lathrop.

"Romance is a nice thing in its place. I 've had my own romances--four
on 'em,--'n' not many women can say that 'n' still be unmarried, I
guess. I 've lived 'n' I 've loved, as the books say; 'n' I 've
survived, as I say myself; 'n' you can believe me or not, jus' as you
please, Mrs. Lathrop, but I ain't got no feelin' toward you this night
but pity. I would n't be you if I could--not now 'n' not never. I 'd
really liefer be the deacon, 'n' Heaven knows 't he 's got little enough
to look forward to hereafter."

"I--" expostulated Mrs. Lathrop.

"Well, Mrs. Lathrop, if you keep me here much longer, I sha'n't get
down-town this afternoon; 'n' when you think how near Mrs. Jilkins 's
comin' to bein' related to you, it certainly will look very strange to
the community."

As she spoke, Miss Clegg rapidly prepared herself for the street, and
with the last words she went toward the do