"That's all right. I ain't offended. Say, how's Kate an' her pa?"
"Fine when I saw 'em last. Kate's as pretty as ever."
"She ought to be. She ain't married. Matrimony shore does rough up a woman's figure an' face. Lord, I'm a good thirty pounds heavier than I was when I saw you last. Say, do you know if Kate got that dress pattern I sent her last month?"
"I dunno, ma'am. I didn't hear her say."
"I s'pose not. I guess you two had more important things to talk about. Say, how are you an' Kate gettin' along, anyway?"
"Why, all right, I guess."
Loudon felt extremely unhappy. Mrs. Mace's keen gaze was embarrassing. So was her next utterance.
"Well, I guess I'll write to Kate," remarked the lady, "an' find out about that dress pattern. She always was a poor writer, but she'd ought to have sent me a thank-you anyway, an' me her best friend. I'll tell her I saw yuh, Mr. Loudon."
"Don't tell her on my account," said Loudon. Then, realizing his mistake, he continued hurriedly, "Shore, tell her. She'd enjoy hearin', o' course."
"Don't tell me you two haven't been quarrellin'," chided Mrs. Mace, shaking a fat forefinger at Loudon. "You'd ought to be ashamed of yourselves, rowin' this way."