"Jest as natural as one could expect after a hard life an' a hard death."
"Pore Margar't!" Mrs. Martin sighed. There was a long and embarrassed silence. Miss Prime's lips were compressed, and she seemed more aggressively busy than usual. She bustled about as if every minute were
her last one. She brushed off tables, set chairs to rights, and tried the golden-brown cup-cake with a straw to see if it were done. Her visitor positively writhed with curiosity and discomfiture. Finally she began again. "Margar't only had one child, did n't she?"
"Yes, that was all."
"Pore little lamb. Motherless childern has a hard time of it."
"Indeed, most of 'em do."
"Do you know what 's become of the child, Miss Hester?"
"Yes, I do, Sallie Martin, an' you do too, or you would n't be a-settin' there beatin' about the bush, askin' me all these questions."
This sudden outburst gave Mrs. Martin quite a turn, but she exclaimed, "I declare to goodness, Miss Hester, I 'ain't heerd a livin' thing about it, only—"
She checked herself, but her relentless hostess caught at the word and demanded, "Only what, Mis' Martin?"