"Well, yuh'd ought to think of it. An' if yuh know what's best for yuh, yuh will think of it—hard. I tell yuh flat, Tom, a single man ain't no-account. He don't gather no moss, but he does collect bad habits. Now a wife she stops all this rattlin' round a-diggin' up what St. Peter will ask yuh questions about. Yessir, a good wife keeps yuh up to the bit an' a-headin' the right way."
Nervously Loudon began to roll another cigarette. He hoped that Mrs. Burr had finished. His hope was vain.
"Well, now, Tom, ain't I right?" she demanded.
"Shore, ma'am, shore, plumb right," Loudon hastened to assure her.
"'Course I am. I knowed yuh'd see it that way. Why don't yuh do it?"
"Do it?"
"Yuh know perfectly well what I mean. Ask a girl to marry yuh."
"Any girl?"
"Not just any girl. If yuh was to ask me I could tell yuh who right quick. But I suppose that wouldn't do."
Loudon was devoutly thankful that the lady possessed some sense of propriety.