"I'm much obliged to you, but I really couldn't." But before he had time to take up his reading, which somehow he was not able to do immediately, he heard Mrs.Blodgett, who made a point of being as kind to her boarders as she could afford to be, tapping at his door.
"I thought you'd be going to the rink to-night." "No," said Peter.
"You don't think it's wrong, or anything ?" "Oh, no, not in the least." "Well, Mr.Weatheral, I've seen a power of young folks, comin' and goin', in my business and it don't pay for 'em to get too stodgy like.
They need livenin' up." She hung upon the door as Peter waited for her to go.

"Miss Havens is a nice girl," she ventured.
Peter admitted it.

"I've my mother and sister to think of," he told her, and presently he found he had told her a great deal more.
"Well," commented Mrs.Blodgett, "you do have a lot to carry....

Was you readin' now, Mr.Weatheral?
...

because it's warmer down in my sittin' room, and there's only Aggie and me sewin'....