"That's the name I give everybody who I don't know," she said, smiling.
Wade felt quite relieved, his confusion at once disappearing. The simplicity of this pure valley girl wrought within his soul a feeling almost sympathetic. The simple means she had employed in asking him to introduce himself caused a feeling akin to shame to cover his heart. Recovering his composure, he said:
"I am Jack Wade. I beg your pardon for not having told you before."
"Ye needn't," she replied, extending her hand. A continuous smile played about her face.
"And your name?" he asked hesitatingly.
"Huh!" she grunted. "Thought everybody knowed me. I'm Nory Judson, only gal of Peter Judson, owner of this large terbac—to-bac-ker farm. I'm pleased ter know ye, Jack."
Wade smiled as she requested him to take a seat upon the rickety little porch and make himself at home. She sat beside him and dangled her feet in and out under the porch.
"You haven't got it quite right yet," he said, looking into her face.
"Got whut right?" she asked, a far-away expression covering her countenance.
"Tobacco. T-o-b-a-c-c-o."