Miss Parker's "company manner" was again much in evidence and she seemed to feel it her duty to lead the conversation.

She professed to have discovered a striking resemblance between Miss Howes and a deceased relative of her own named Melinda Ellis.
"The more I see of you, Miss Howes," she declared, "the more I can't help thinkin' of poor Melindy.

She was pretty and had dark eyes and hair same's you've got, and that same sort of--of consumptic look to her.

Not that you've got consumption, I don't mean that.

Only you look the way she done, that's all.