Dimbie and I—and Amelia

by Mabel Barnes-Grundy

She stood and stared at me.

"You see, I—I am very interested in quicklime and ovens." I spoke rapidly. "Did the Tompkinses quicklime their oven?"

Amelia fell into the trap like a mouse.

"They didn't till I taught 'em. They didn't do anythink like that till I showed 'em how. When I went there first, the oven was like that tex in the Bible."

"Which text?" I asked with relief, for she had seated herself upon the grass.

"'It stank in your nostrils.'"

"Dear me," I said, "how unpleasant."

"Heverythink tasted of ovens. You know the taste, mum?"

"I'm not sure that I do."

"It's like bad hot fat."