That appropriate face, however, had continued to be Martha’s, and the explanation thereof when they were alone had surprised Caleb more than the sob.
“I knew she’d rob me of Will. I knew it from the first moment she wanted to read his letter to me.”
“Rob you of him!”
“They’re in love. Are you blind?”
“You don’t say! Lord! Little Jinny! Why, she’s a baiby!”
“A cunning woman. Came after him even when you’d have thought he was safe behind the flood! This letter will be all that’s left to me! You mark my words!”
“Don’t, dear heart. You’re wettin’ the letter—it’ll spile. But dedn’t Oi leave my mother to come to you, as the Book commands?”
“That’s different. He’s all I’ve got. I can’t trust him to Jinny—she’s too flighty—always singing.”
“Sow’s the birds, but look what noice nests they make! ’Tain’t as if ’twas that Purley gal as Bundock warned us of, allus lookin’ at herself like a goose in a pond. We ought to be thankful as Will’s showed sow much sense. There’s plenty o’ good farmers along the road, but there’s no weeds to Jinny even three fields back.”
“I don’t wonder you go kissing her! Pity you can’t marry her yourself!”