If the truth was known, I cal'late she'd seen Kenelm go past her house on the way downtown and was layin' for him when he come back, but she acted dreadful surprised.
"'Why, Mr.Parker!' says she, 'how DO you do?
Seems's if I hadn't seen you for an age! Ain't it dreadful lonesome at your house now your sister's away ?' "Kenelm colored up some--he always h'isted danger signals when women heave in sight--and agreed that 'twas kind of poky bein' all alone.

Then they talked about the weather, and about the price of coal, and about the new plush coat Cap'n Jabez Bailey's wife had just got, and how folks didn't see how she could afford it with Jabez out of work, and so on.

And all the time the smell of things cookin' drifted through the doorway.

Fin'lly Abbie says, says she: "'Was you goin' home, Mr.Parker ?' "'Yes, ma'am,' says Kenelm.

'I was cal'latin' to go home and cook somethin' for dinner.' "'Well, there, now!' says Abbie.