"Moved! why you might as well try to lift a tombstun. I reckon I've tried it."
Goody Brown kept on with her work, without joining in this conversation, and for some minutes the click and rattle of her needles kept time with the splinters cast off by her husband's jackknife.
Then the hired man spoke again.
"How long afore you'll be going to sea agin, Jase?"
"That's rayther unsartin. There'll be a good deal of jiner work to do on the vessel afore she puts out agin. That storm tore her eenamost tu pieces."
Goody Brown looked up from her knitting with the ghost of a smile hovering over her lips.
"Then you'll have so much longer to stay tu hum," she said.
"Wal, yes; I shouldn't much wonder if Thanksgiving found me in this identical spot."
The good wife breathed deeply, and went on with her work, sending out absolute music from her needles. Then the hired man spoke again.
"Any passengers this trip?"