And I sez, “No, I spoze not.” And I didn’t explain furder, nor she didn’t.
And this neighbor, bein’ a sharp-eyed-and-nosed woman, who evidently loved scandal, sez, “Have you hearn anything more about Fidelia’s troubles?”
And I sez, “No.”
And she sez, “Poor creeter! she is passin’ through the waters.”
And I sez: “What waters? Has she fell into the creek, or has her suller overflowed?”
And then she sez, right out, “Her hired girl gits more of her husband’s attention than she duz. Folks talk a sight!” sez she.
And I sez, coolly, “They generally do; they mostly make out not to lose the use of their tongues by tyin’ ’em to their teeth.”
And I wouldn’t ask a word more; but she went on: “Everybody sez Minnie acts more like the mistress of the house than Fidelia duz, dressed up and loiterin’ round; though they do say that she is faithful and honest; but Fidelia duz the hardest of the work herself, and folks say that Minnie eats with them, and if anything is wanted Fidelia gits up and gits it, and Minnie sits like a lady.”
“Well,” sez I, “most probable that is Fidelia’s fault. She wouldn’t do it unless she wuz a fool!” sez I.
“And some one told me,” sez the neighbor, “that hearn it from one that wuz knowin’ to it, that Alcander had been known to pay Minnie compliments on her good looks and pretty dresses and find fault with Fidelia.”