“Is he? Well, you ought to know best. Seems to me I can call to mind somebody else that is fairly popular—in some latitudes. By the way, John, you don't seem to be as popular with Heman as you was at first.”
“I'm sorry. My accepting my cousin's retainer may—”
“Oh, I didn't mean that. What was you and Emily doin' at Chris Badger's store yesterday afternoon?”
“Doing? Yesterday? Oh, yes! I did meet Miss Howes while I was on my way to the office and I waited while she did a little marketing. What in the world—”
“Nothin'. Fur's that goes I don't think either of you knew you was IN the world. I passed right by and you didn't see me. Heman saw you, too. What was your marketin'—vegetables?”
“I believe so. Captain, you're sidestepping again. It was of you, not me, I was speaking when—”
“Yes, I know. Well, I'm speakin' about you now. Heman saw you buyin' them vegetables. Tomatters, wa'n't they?”
“Perhaps so. Have you been drinking? What difference does it make whether we bought tomatoes or potatoes?”
“Didn't make none—to me. But I bet Heman didn't like to see you two buyin' tomatters.”
“For heaven's sake, why not?”