Tesney read the inscription, and dropped a word about her suspicion.
"Now, comb on, chile. Me! My! Whew! Stop, chile, stop! Dat comb's mighty fine. Whut dat you say 'bout dem ring-wuds an' dat big white man?"
Tesney repeated the inscription and emphasized her suspicion.
"Is dat so?" asked Agnes doubtfully.
"Didn't you as good as say so, Aunt Agnes?"
"Maybe I did, chile. Now, look heah, chile, is you gwine ter be my daughter-in-law?"
"Aunt Agnes, it cannot be. You know your son is a bad man."
"Yes, chile; but er bad man needs er good wife."
"Thanks, Aunt Agnes; but it cannot be."