It was the hard work, the many children, and the nagging of her husband, he decided, that had changed her.

It came to him, in a flash of fancy, that her nature seemed taking on the attributes of stale vegetables, smelly soapsuds, and of the greasy dimes, nickels, and quarters she took in over the counter of the store.
"Go along an' get your breakfast," she said roughly, though secretly pleased.

Of all her wandering brood of brothers he had always been her favorite.

"I declare I _will_ kiss you," she said, with a sudden stir at her heart.
With thumb and forefinger she swept the dripping suds first from one arm and then from the other.

He put his arms round her massive waist and kissed her wet steamy lips.