"Nor do Ah, Mrs. Carroll. Ah thought it was high five years ago, when Ah didn't consider mahself overly fat, so you can imagine what the effort is now." And she shook jovially.
"Is the Doctor here?"
"Yes, indeed. He drove me. He always comes to these things. They generally need him before they get through, and it often saves him a long trip into the mountains if he's on the spot when things happen."
"I dare say his presence prevents a good many quarrels."
"Maybe so; but Ah should hate to have any mo' fights than there are. There's always whisky about, you know."
"If the chief crop of this country could be changed, what a blessing it would be!"
"Ah don't know as it would make much difference as long as potatoes were left."
"And thirst."
"There's Bob now. O-oh, Bob!" she called, waving a fat hand to her son as he cantered across the open on his gray.
Bob looked about for the source of the call, and turned his horse towards the tree.