"My word?"
"Don't you remember telling me that I was rather good-looking at that time, but the difference between us was that you'd improve and that I'd grow repellent and plain if I wasn't very careful?"
"I never said such a—"
"Oh yes. You used to be a wise child. Are you a wise woman?"
"Not enough to hurt," she said, with a little grimace.
He asked about Mrs. Gano and Emmie, and the bedridden An' Jerusha. The year before, Venus had married the mulatto postman, and Val, at Ethan's suggestion, had bought them a cottage, where they all lived very happily. Val told him of the advent of the twins.
"What are you doing here?" she inquired, presently.
"Political business."
"I suppose you think I wouldn't understand that."