"I won't ever marry," Tillie repeated.
"I didn't know you was so funny," Absalom sullenly answered. "You might be glad I want to be your reg'lar friend."
"No," said Tillie, "I don't care about it."
They walked on in silence for a few minutes. Tillie looked away into the starlit night and thought of Miss Margaret and wished she were alone, that her thoughts might be uninterrupted. Absalom, at her side, kicked up the dust with his heavy shoes, as he sulkily hung his head.
Presently he spoke again.
"Will you leave me come to see you Sundays, still, if I take my chancet that I'm wastin' my time?"
"If you'll leave it that way," Tillie acquiesced, "and not hold me to anything."
"All right. Only you won't leave no one else set up with you, ain't not?"
"There isn't any one else."
"But some chance time another feller might turn up oncet that wants to keep comp'ny with you too."