"Yes, to be sure," said Mrs. Brown. "And, now I think of it, I don't know how I shall get home. My girl's gone too. She says she gave me a week's warning, but I'm sure I haven't begun to get ready for her to go yet. I must try to get things picked up so we can wash to-morrow or next day, and it rains worse than ever."
The caller had ridden over with Dr. Sanford, whom she had hailed as he passed her door.
"'They that wash on Friday.'"
quoted Flossy under her breath to Patty—
"'Wash for need.'"
"'They that wash on Saturday,
Oh, they are sluts indeed!'"
retorted her cousin. "They won't get at it before that time."
"I shall be ready after dinner," Mrs. Brown continued. "I guess Selina can pick up a pie or something for Joe.—Did I tell you, Mrs. Sanford, that we've heard from my cousin over to Samoset? He ain't really my cousin, only for marrying Eliza. But I feel for Eliza, I'm sure. He's run off with another woman, and Eliza's left to bring up her three boys. It's a mercy they ain't girls."
"I declare it's awful!" her hostess said. "Who was the woman?"
"She was the daughter of that Smithers woman that—you know."