an empty barrel with a resigned sigh.

"That’s a comfort to know," said Joshua.

"She’s got it all made up for ’em to marry each other."

"That ain’t no great news to me," said Joshua.

"Joshua Whittlesey, you make my blood boil. Things is goin’ rackin’ and
ruinin’ at a great pace here an’ you as cold as a cauliflower over it
all."

Joshua sorted potatoes phlegmatically and said nothing.

"S’posin’ I’d ’a’ wanted to marry him?"

Joshua continued to sort potatoes.

"Or, s’posin’ you wanted to marry her?"

Joshua looked up quickly.

"Which one?" he said.

"Janice!"

"Oh," he said in a relieved tone.

"Why did you say ’oh,’—did you think I meant her?"