“Do I understand your wife is going along—” Mrs. Mar began on a lower note.
“Yes, oh, yes. I couldn’t do it without Mrs. Blumpitty.”
“Where does she come in?”
“Everywhere. Little bit o’ woman, so high. You’ve seen her.” He turned to Hildegarde. She nodded, smiling. “Don’t weigh more’n ninety-six pounds. Worth twenty or’nary size people.”
“What does she do up there?”
“Everything. Keeps it all together.” He looked round with a melancholy wistfulness, as if he felt keenly the need of Mrs. Blumpitty to keep the present situation together.
“And the other women?” said Mrs. Mar.
“Well, Mrs. Tillinghast is the wife of the baker.”
“What baker?”