"Yes, like a cow looks at a passing coach. Surely that slow-witted, knock-kneed shadow of a man can't interest Rhoda?"
"Such things ban't easily explained, but it's true that he's about the only male that ever keeps her talking. I wouldn't say that he ever dreams of such a thing as marriage, but--"
"Good Lord--marriage! I'd so soon expect to see him a bishop as a husband. What now can it be that she likes in poor Simon? I wish I knew, for I'd try to copy it."
"I've oft wondered. 'Tis something in the air of him that makes her feel easy and friendly."
"I wish he'd got the wit to tell me how he does it."
"He doesn't know--no more does she. But there 'tis. She can suffer him; she can even talk about him."
"Try and see what the trick is, Madge. Ask Simon to tea and watch 'em together. What do they speak about?"
"I'll do what I can. She was a bit ruffed with Simon last week, however."
"Angered with him! That's a bad sign, if she could be interested enough in such a shadow as Simon as to be cross with him. She've never been cross with me--not since we made it up."
"She was angry because Mr. Snell has got rather friendly of late with Billy and Dorcas Screech. Their house is near his work and he drops in sometimes, I believe. He told Rhoda that the baby was very like its grandmother to Ditsworthy Warren, and Rhoda flared up and answered that she'd thank him never to name it to her again."