Bailey didn't mean to joke, Ase; he's full of what the papers call 'unconscious humor.' I'll give in that Angie is about as serious a matter as I can think of without settin' down to rest.

Humph! so fur we haven't gained any knots to speak of.

Any more candidates on your mind ?" More possibilities were mentioned, but none of them seemed to fill the bill.

The conference broke up without arriving at a decision.

Mr.Bangs and the town clerk walked down the hill together.
"Do you know, Bailey," said Asaph, "the way I look at it, this pickin' out a housekeeper for Whit ain't any common job.