“Oh, I can get along with the men, my dear, I always could. I would rather have to do with ten men than one woman; and wouldn’t have one in the house at all if I could help it.
“But, then, you see, my dear, men will have women in the house; I don’t blame ’em a bit, it looks natural like.
“A house don’t look right without a woman or two but; heaven keep me from having a houseful of young women and young men!
“I tried it once, but it wouldn’t answer, my dear.
“Oh, the sorrow and vexation I had with ’em. I had my hands full, and soon gave it up.
“Young widows in the house are just as bad.
“I abominate widows in the house from my heart, particularly when young and handsome, although I am a widow myself.
“There’s always trouble about ’em, and they are always flirting with some one, and getting the men into fusses.
“But what can you do, my dear? You must have some one that’s attractive to keep the men together, otherwise the place would be as cold and cheerless to ’em as an ice-house.
“But, then, my dear, they talk so much, there’s no end to their chatter.