"A rare hand at fashioning and managing, 'Lizbeth Colley," he remarked. He paused to drink with his mouth full of bread and butter. It was not a pretty exhibition, but neither Mrs. Hanson nor Betty remarked it. Bread and butter and tea taken at one meal had to mingle, sooner or later; why not sooner than later?
The meal went on, Abram smacked his lips noisily. Mrs. Hanson tried to make conversation.
"A bit of luck for an old man like Markabee getting a permanent job at his time of life! I wonder how long du they think they'll keep he?" she asked.
"Ah!"
"Though I du admit very agile he be for his years!"
It was all idle, it was all eating up time, till the meal should be over. These, as Betty knew, were merely preliminaries, presently the real business would start. Her grandmother had warned her.
"Ahram be here to-night, he be, to hev a direct answer and for 'ee to make up thy mind and name the day!" said Mrs. Hanson.
"He'll get his direct answer, he will! And as for naming the day, there wun't he no day to name!" said Betty.
"We'll see, my gell!"
"Aye, we'll see!" said Betty.