"Somebody to help?" said the woman, beginning to use her broom upon the hearth. "Who wants 'em?"
"Mrs. Rossitur my aunt."
"Mrs. Rossitur? what, down to old Squire Ringgan's place?"
"Yes. We are left alone, and want somebody very much."
"Do you want her only a few days, or do you calculate to have her stop longer? because you know it wouldn't be worth the while to put oneself out for a week."
"Oh, we want her to stay; if we suit each other."
"Well, I don't know," said the woman, going on with her sweeping. "I could let you have Hannah, but I 'spect I'll want her to hum. What does Mis' Rossitur calculate to give?"
"I don't know anything that's reasonable."
"Hannah kin go just as good as not," said the old woman in the corner, rubbing her hands up and down her lap "Hannah kin go, just as good as not!"
"Hannah ain't a-going," said the first speaker, answering without looking at her. "Hannah 'll be wanted to hum; and she aint a well girl neither; she's kind o' weak in her muscles; and I calculate you'll want somebody that call take hold lively. There's Lucy, if she took a notion, she could go but she'd please herself about it. She wont do nothing without she has a notion."