It's the most absurd thing in the world.

The man never spoke two dozen words to me in his life." "He speaks to me, though," said Mrs Greenow.
"I dare say he does," said Kate.
"And about you, too, my dear." "He doesn't come here with those big flowers in his button-hole for nothing," said Jeannette,--"not if I knows what a gentleman means." "Of course he doesn't," said Mrs Greenow.
"If you don't object, aunt," said Kate, "I will write to grandpapa and tell him that I will return home at once." "What!--because of Mr Cheesacre ?" said Mrs Greenow.

"I don't think you'll be so silly as that, my dear." On the present occasion Mrs Greenow undertook that she would see the generous gentleman, and endeavour to stop the supplies from his farmyard.

It was well understood that he would call about four o'clock, when his business in the town would be over; and that he would bring with him a little boy, who would carry away the basket.
At that hour Kate of course was absent, and the widow received Mr Cheesacre alone.

The basket and cloth were there, in the sitting-room, and on the table were laid out the rich things which it had contained;--the turkey poult first, on a dish provided in the lodging-house, then a dozen fresh eggs in a soup plate, then the cream in a little tin can, which, for the last fortnight, had passed regularly between Oileymead and the house in the Close, and as to which Mr Cheesacre was very pointed in his inquiries with Jeannette.
Then behind the cream there were two or three heads of broccoli, and a stick of celery as thick as a man's wrist.