Sometimes she said "hoss," unmistakably; and here, and again when she said "bile" for "boil," it was obviously with humorous intention.

Except in long speeches she did not drawl; at times she spoke rapidly, snapping off sentences abruptly.

Her fashion of referring to herself in the third person struck Sylvia as most amusing.
"Look here, you Joe, it's a nice way to treat yo' Mis' Sally, turning out that wagon with the dash all scratched.

Don' you think I'm blind and can't tell when you boys dig a broom into a varnished buggy! Next time I catch yo' doing that I'll send you down to Greene County to plow co'n and yo'll not go to any more fancy hoss shows with me." As she followed Mrs.Owen into the house Sylvia thought she heard suppressed guffawing in the stable.

Mrs.Owen must have heard it too.
"A worthless lot," she muttered; "I'm going to clean 'em all out some day and try the Irish"; but Mrs.Sally Owen had often made this threat without having the slightest intention of carrying it into effect.
Professor Kelton had just reached the house, and he seemed so hot and tired that Sylvia was struck with pity for him.