Then something was said which caused him to hesitate.

Mrs.Barnes looked out between the ears of jogging George Washington and spoke her thought aloud.
"It's somethin' to do with Uncle Abner," she soliloquized.

"He don't like to have Uncle Abner mentioned.

Hum! I wonder what the reason is.

I only wish I knew." To Emily, who was eagerly waiting to hear the result of her cousin's visit to Solomon Cobb, Thankful told but a portion of the truth.