"
"Um--hm. How long a time do you want?"
"I don't know. Three years, perhaps."
Solomon shook his head.
"Too long," he said. "I couldn't give as long a mortgage as that to
anybody. No, I couldn't do it. . . . Tell you what I will do," he added.
"I--I don't want to act mean to a relation. I think as much of relations
as anybody does. I'd like to favor you and I will if I can. You give me
a week to think this over in and then I'll let you know what I'll do.
That's fair, ain't it?"
Mrs. Barnes declined the offer.
"It may be fair to you," she said, "but I can't wait so long. I want
to settle this afore I go back to South Middleboro. And I shall go back
tomorrow, or the day after at the latest."
Another session of "weeding." Then said Mr. Cobb: "Well, all right, all
right. I'll think it over and then I'll drive across to East Wellmouth,
have another look at the property, and let you know. I'll see you day
after tomorrow forenoon. Where you stoppin' over there?"
Thankful told him. He walked as far as the door with her.
"Hope you ain't put out with me, ma'am," he said. "I have to be kind of
sharp and straight up and down in my dealin's; they'd get the weather
gauge on me a dozen times a day if I wa'n't. But I'm real
kind inside--to them I take a notion to. I'll--I'll treat you
right--er--er--Cousin Thankful; you see if I don't. I'm real glad you
come to me. Good day."
Thankful went down the path. As she reached the sidewalk she turned and
looked back.
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