She laughed as if it were a good joke, and said, “'Tain't but about a fortnight now till Thanksgiving anyway.”
“If it comes a good fall of snow before Thanksgivin', won't you come round and give us a sleigh-ride, Mr. Barker?” asked 'Manda Grier.
They all laughed at her audacity, and Lemuel said, Yes, he would; and she said, “We'll give you a piece of real Willoughby Centre Mince-pie, if you will.”
They all laughed again.
“'Manda Grier!” said Statira, in protest.
“Her folks sent her half a dozen last Thanksgivin',” persisted 'Manda Grier.
“'Manda!” pleaded Statira.
'Manda Grier sprang up and got Lemuel a folding-chair. “You ain't a bit comfortable in that stiff old thing, Mr. Barker.”
Lemuel declared that he was perfectly comfortable, but she would not be contented till he had changed, and then she said, “Why don't you look after your company, S'tira Dudley? I should think you'd be ashamed.”
Lemuel's face burned with happy shame, and Statira, who was as red as he was, stole a look at him, that seemed to say that there was no use trying to stop 'Manda Grier. But when she went on, “I don't know but it's the fashion to Willoughby Centre,” they both gave way again, and laughed more than ever, and Statira said, “Well, 'Manda Grier, what do you s'pose Mr. Barker 'll think?”