"Good morning, neighbour. How goes it?"
"Good morning, neighbour. How should it go?"
"I see no preparations as yet. Is not the commissioner coming?"
"I believe not."
"Is your husband at home?"
"He is gone out."
"Do you really believe the gentlemen will not come? Do not rely upon it. These are bad times."
"They cannot come."
"Don't say that, neighbour. Who can tell what can or cannot happen now-a-days!"
"Why prophesy evil, neighbour? Ill luck comes fast enough; there is no need to invoke it."