"Well, they say you're an old maid!"
I stopped work, rose from my knees, confronted him and exclaimed, with an injured air:
"An old maid! Why Charlie! is it possible you let them talk in that manner about me, after the nice pickles I gave you?"
The pickles had made him sick, and now there was a general laugh at his expense, but he stuck to his purpose and said:
"Well, ain't you on old maid?"
"An old maid, Charlie? Did any one ever see such a saucy boy?"
"Oh, but tell us, good earnest, ain't you an old maid?"
"Well then, good earnest, Charlie, I expect I shall be one, if I live to be old enough."
"Live to be old enough! How old do you call yourself?"
I set down my basin, counted on my fingers, thought it over and replied: