“Well, if you want to know, I listened outside the door,” said 'Manda Grier, “and you wa'n't sayin' a word, either of you. I guess I got a key now that'll do,” she added, setting down her lamp, “and I borrowed an old Bible 't I guess 'tain't go'n' to hurt a great deal.”
“I don't know as I want to play it much,” said Statira.
“Well, I guess you got to, now,” said 'Manda Grier, “after all my trouble. Hain't she, Mr. Barker?”
It flattered Lemuel through and through to be appealed to, but he could not say anything.
“Well,” said Statira, “if I got to, I got to. But you got to hold the Bible.”
“You got to put the key in!” cried 'Manda Grier. She sat holding the Bible open toward Statira.
She offered to put the key in, and then she stopped. “Well! I'm great! Who are we going to find it for first?”
“Oh, company first,” said 'Manda Grier.
“You company, Mr. Barker?” asked Statira, looking at Lemuel over her shoulder.
“I hope not,” said Lemuel gallantly, at last.