"Last night when walkin' home with Zeb. He's the best hand at that I ever come across. He kin beat Billy Sunday all to bits. He put the punch into me, all right, an' I guess you must have got a touch of it too, Tildy."
"Maybe I have, Abner. But, you see, I'm feeling sorry for you after what you've gone through of late."
"An' ye don't blame me, Tildy?" Abner asked in astonishment.
"How can I? It wasn't your fault. I know you couldn't help it, and that is what worries me. But there, never mind that now. I have something to tell you. Abe Dugan wants to know if you will give him a hand this afternoon with that boat he's making."
"He does, eh? Well, I like his gall. Does he think I've got nuthin' to do?"
"But it's a dull day, Abner, and I want you to take back a pattern I borrowed from Mrs. Dugan this morning."
"So that's where ye were, was it? I thought ye had cleared out entirely."
"I merely ran over to get a pattern. I want to make some trousers for the boys, and as we have had no need for such a thing I knew that Mrs. Dugan would let me have hers. She's going to help me with the work."
"She is? Good fer her. I didn't know that she would stoop to sich things."
"Oh, yes, she's much interested in the boys, and is going to do all she can. But she wants that pattern back this afternoon, and if you won't take it, then I shall have to do so, though I have so much cooking to do since we have all those extra mouths to feed."