It's shorter, an' some cheaper.

There isn't much travellin' done by our folks, anyhow.

We're a mighty dead an' alive set up here.

Goin' to stay a spell ?" he continued, with increasing interest, as he looked longer into Mercy's face.
"Probably," said Mercy, in a grave tone, suddenly recollecting that she ought not to talk with this man as if he were one of her own village people.

The conductor, sensitive as are most New England people, spite of their apparent familiarity of address, to the least rebuff, felt the change in Mercy's tone, and walked away, thinking half surlily, "She needn't put on airs.