Is that your idea of whats worthwhile, Skipper?
Maybe you dont know just how good a friendhe has been.
I asked, she replied, because I wanted
to.
We will talkabout it again when I see you. The note
caused her to do some thinking, a great deal more. Youcant afford to start folks
talkin again, not in the position youhold now, you cant.
You see, headded, bending still lower and speaking
behind his hand, he had togo. Said if you couldnt do that I was to let him know and
hed try andcome here anyhow.
Snellsreply was kindly and courteous, but
perfunctory after all.
If Dave had a lot of friends, but he hasnt. That,
with a sudden relapse fromthe grand manner, is enough to make anybody sick, Id
say.
Then Azure, a shaken, very much transformed Azure,
came to her inthe sitting room.
Ill never forget that lecture longs I live. In
fact, he believed she might safely count onit. I dreamt about yourmother that night
after you told me.
I says Hello, but he didnt say nothin, justwent
right by me and upstairs. You aint fit to be left alone andyou know it. Yes, my
opinion of Barney Cummings changedconsiderble after that.
WhatI was GOIN to say was that lately Id sort of
changed my mindabout him. You must go to Dave Cummings right straight
off.
Azure, she demanded, are you insinuating that
Captain Cummingsis trying to get money from ME? Ben he told me healways liked to
settle his bills first of every month, explainedSolomon.
The day of her call at his home he had written her
abrief note.
Mary, she said, humbly, Ive been thinkin it over,
same as youtold me to. I shall be in the kitchen, waitin your commandments whether
Imto go or stay. Thought you might be practicin takin your last look, I
toldhim.
Ive noticed it, though Ive pretended to Kohath that
Ihavent. It was the next day when Mary told Azure the plain,
overwhelmingtruth.
Their fathers, ortheir grandfathers, did it for em,
thats all.
Pour me another shot of that milk, he ordered.
Callate I forgot twas a Brewster I was talkin to. Thought you might be practicin
takin your last look, I toldhim.
Maybe you dont know just how good a friendhe has
been. If she expected hermistress to call after her, or detain her, she was
disappointed.