“Curis, ain’t it, how that thing will convey sound in that way? I should think that some invention might come out of it some day. Now, Amanda, you just put your ear up to the funnel and listen again. Mandy,” he continued through the tube, “if your heart is sot on Asahel, do you stand by him, and wait; time makes changes pleasantly.” He put aside the tube. “There, now, do you hear?”
“You didn’t hear, mother, did you?” said Caleb to Asenath, glancing aside.
“No, Kalub.”
“This is a great invention. It works well. Now let me just have a word with Asahel.”
Amanda conveyed one end of the tube to Asahel’s ear.
“Asahel.” He took his mouth from the tube. “Did you hear?”
“You didn’t hear anything, did you?” he said, looking toward Asenath.
“No, Kalub.”
“Now, Asahel, you listen again,” said Caleb, putting his mouth to the tube. “If your heart is sot on Mandy, you just hang on, and wait. Time will be a friend to you, and I will. There, now, did you hear, Asahel?”
“You didn’t hear anything, did you?” asked Caleb of Asenath again with a shake.