The old lady was an inveterate talker, and her habit of only half finishing her sentences made it difficult to follow the meanderings of her rambling discourse.

It turned largely on her daughter, Mrs.Phillips, her husband, children, house, furniture, habits, tastes, and the Phillips connection generally.
"She's the only one I've got," she informed Mrs.Dayton; "so of course she's all-important to me.

Jane Phillips--that's Henry's youngest sister--often says that really of all the women she ever knew Ellen is the most--And there's plenty to do always, of course, with three children and such a large elegant house and company coming all the--It's lucky that there's plenty to do with.

Henry's very liberal.

He likes to have things nice, so Ellen she--Why, when I was packing up to come away he brought me that _repousse_ fruit-knife there in my bag--Oh, it's in my other bag! Never mind; I'll show it to you some other time--solid silver, you know.
Bigelow and Kennard--their things always good, though expensive; and my son-in-law he said, 'You're going to a fruit country, and--' Mrs.Peters doesn't think there is so much fruit, though.