"Why?" asked Penelope.
"He'd build it for the farmer and have some business sense about it."
"You don't understand Mr. Manning," said Pen. "I wish you'd try to get to know him better."
Oscar grunted. "Does the doctors think your husband will get well?" he asked, finishing off his pie.
"Oscar!" cried Jane.
"Jane, you keep quiet. These are business questions. If Sardox and I are going to run this dam, we got to understand each other's limitations. I can't ask him if he's going to die."
"We just don't know anything about it," said Pen, gently. "Mr. Ames, I'm curious to know just how you and Sara are going to run the dam."
Oscar closed his mouth importantly to open it again and say, "I never talk business with ladies."
Jane laughed suddenly. "Gracious, Oscar! I'm not worrying but what I'll get all the details. He's the original human sieve, Mrs. Penelope."