She seemed not ashamed to ask if Mrs.
Leighton's price was inflexible, but gave way laughing when her father refused to have any bargaining, with a haughty self-respect which he softened to deference for Mrs.Leighton.His impulsiveness opened the way for some confidence from her, and before the affair was arranged she was enjoying in her quality of clerical widow the balm of the Virginians' reverent sympathy.

They said they were church people themselves.
"Ah don't know what yo' mothah means by yo' hoase not being in oddah," the young lady said to Alma as they went down-stairs together.

"Ah'm a great hoasekeepah mahself, and Ah mean what Ah say." They had all turned mechanically into the room where the Leightons were sitting when the Woodburns rang: Mr.Woodburn consented to sit down, and he remained listening to Mrs.Leighton while his daughter bustled up to the sketches pinned round the room and questioned Alma about them.
"Ah suppose you awe going to be a great awtust ?" she said, in friendly banter, when Alma owned to having done the things.

"Ah've a great notion to take a few lessons mahself.

Who's yo' teachah ?" Alma said she was drawing in Mr.Wetmore's class, and Miss Woodburn said: "Well, it's just beautiful, Miss Leighton; it's grand.