She then entered the house with Mike, and, a candle having been lighted, she explained her unexpected appearance.

She had met Miss Dora Bannister, and that young lady had engaged her to go to Cobhurst and take a note to Miss Miriam.
"She tole me," said Phoebe, "that she had wrote two times already to Miss Miriam, and then, havin' suspected somethin', had gone to the pos'-office and found they was still dar.

Don't your boss ever sen' to the pos'-office, Mike ?" "He went hisself every now an' then, till the gig was broke," said Mike, "but I don't believe he ever got nuthin', and I reckon they thought it was no use botherin' about sendin' me, special, in the wagon." "Well, they're uncommon queer folks," said Phoebe.

"I reckon they've got nobody to write to, or git letters from.

Anyway, Miss Dora wanted her letter to git here, and so she says to me that if I'd take it, she'd pay the hire of a hack, and so, as I wanted to see you anyway, Mike, I 'greed quick enough." Before delivering the letter with which she had been entrusted, Phoebe proceeded to attend to some personal business, which was to ask her husband to lend her five dollars.
"Bless my soul," said Mike, "I ain't got no five dollars.