"'But the thing is,' said Mrs. Derrick, 'I did know; the Committee told me all about him. And of course he thinks I know,--and I don't,--no more than I do my great-grandmother's name, which I never did remember yet.'
"'Mother, shall I go and ask him, or wait till after supper?'
"'Oh, you sha'n't go,' said her mother. 'Wait till after supper, and we'll send Cindy. He won't care about his name till he gets his tea, I'll warrant... Faith, don't you think he liked his supper?'
"'I should think he would, after having no dinner,' said Faith.
"'There's Cindy, this minute! Run and tell her to go right away, and find out what his name is,--tell her I want to know,--you can put it in good words.'
"Cindy presently came back, and handed a card to Faith.
"'It's easy done,' said Cindy. 'I jest asked him if he'd any objections towards tellin' his name,--and he kinder opened his eyes at me, and said, "No." Then I said, says I, "Mis' Derrick do' know, and she'd like ter." "Miss Derrick!" says he, and he took out his pencil and writ that. But I'd like ter know what he cleans his pencil with,' said Cindy, in conclusion, for I'm free to confess I never see brass shine so in my born days.'"
Cindy's "free confessions" are an important feature of the book.
In Chapter VI, Squire Deacon and his sister hold a brief Yankee dialogue, of which this is a sample:--
"'Sam! what are you bothering yourself about Mr. Linden for?'