"'That isn't up to date, Mr. Sykes,' says Letty, to get Silas riled.
"It done it. He waved his left arm, angular.
"'Bein' up to date is bein' up to the devil,' he begun, raspish, when I cut in, hasty and peaceful.
"'By the way, Silas,' I says, 'speaking of dates, it ain't more'n a year past the time you aldermen was going to clear out Black Hollow, is it? Ain't you going to get it done this spring?'
"'Oh, dum it, no,' Silas says. 'They're all after us now to get to pavin' that new street.'
"'That street off there in the marsh. I know they are,' I says innocent. 'Your cousin's makin' the blocks, ain't he, Silas?'
"Just then, in from the shed where she was doing my washing come Emerel Daniel—a poor little thing that looked like nothing but breath with the skin drawn over it—and she was crying.
"'Oh, Miss Marsh,' she says, 'I guess you'll have to leave me go home. I left little Otie so sick—I hadn't ought to of left him—only I did want the fifty cents....'
"'Otie!' I says. 'I thought Otie was getting better.'