"A fancy price, my dear madam; quite an absurd price, I assure you.
What do you say, Kirk?"

"I quite agree with you, squire," said Kirk, in a strong, nasal tone.
"But then, women don't know anything of business."

"I know that you and your cousin are trying to take advantage of my
poverty," said Mrs. Barclay bitterly. "If you are a carpenter, why
don't you build a house for yourself, instead of trying to deprive me
of mine?"

"That's my business," said Kirk rudely.

"Mr. Kirk cannot spare the time to build at present," said the squire.

"Then why doesn't he hire rooms from Elnathan Perkins, as you just
recommended to me?"

"They wouldn't suit him," said the squire curtly. "He has set his
mind on this house."

"Squire Davenport," said Mrs. Barclay, in a softened voice, "I am sure
you cannot understand what you ask of me when you seek to take my home
and turn me adrift. Here I lived with my poor husband; here my boy
was born. During my married life I have had no other home. It is a
humble dwelling, but it has associations and charms for me which it
can never have for no one else. Let Mr. Kirk see some other house and
leave me undisturbed in mine."