“Oh, he won't go. This is more of Hannah's talk; she's put him up to this leavin' business. Offer him another dollar a week, if you have to, and I'll do some preachin' to Hannah, myself.”
When Thankful mentioned the matter to Imogene the latter's comment was puzzling but emphatic.
“Don't you fret, ma'am,” she said. “He ain't left yet.”
“I know; but he says—”
“HE don't say it. It's that sister of his does all the sayin'. And SHE ain't workin' for you that I know of.”
“Now, Imogene, we mustn't, any of us, interfere between Kenelm and his sister. She IS his sister, you know.”
“Yes'm. But she isn't his mother and his grandmother and his aunt and all his relations. And, if she was, 'twouldn't make no difference. He's the one to say whether he's goin' to leave or not.”
“But he does say it. That is, he—”
“He just says he 'cal'lates.' He never said he was GOIN' to do anything; not for years, anyhow. It's all right, Mrs. Thankful. You just wait and see. If worst comes to worst I've got a—”
She stopped short. “What have you got, Imogene?” asked Mrs. Barnes.