I never did believe in swashin' all the time.

A bath in the tin washbasin does me very well," and the good woman wiped her window leisurely, and even put it back and fastened the side-slat in its place before she sat down to see what Richard had written.
Tim knew what he had written, for in his hat was another letter from Melinda, for his mother, which he had opened, his feet going off into a kind of double shuffle as he read that Ethelyn had returned.

She had been very cold and proud to him; but he had admired her greatly, and remembered her with none but kindly feelings.

He was a little anxious to know what Mrs.Markham would say, but as she was in no hurry to open her letter, and he was in a hurry to tell his mother the good news, he bade her good-morning, and mounting his horse, galloped away toward home.
"I hope he's told who the critter was that was took sick in the house," Mrs.Markham said, as she adjusted her glasses and broke the seal.
Mrs.Markham had never fainted in her life, but she came very near it that morning, feeling some as she would if the Daisy, dead, so long, had suddenly walked into the room and taken a seat beside her.
"I am glad for Dick," she said.

"I never saw a man change as he has, pinin' for her.