"He hasn't half bust me, nor a quarter, neither--and I ain't hanging on
to him, as you're elegant enough to say. I keep him as my looker because
he's valiant with the sheep and manages 'em as if born to it, and
because he minds what I say and doesn't sass me back or meddle, as some
I could name. As for being set on him, I'm not so far below myself as
all that. You must think unaccountable low of me, Arthur Alce, if you
figure I'd get sweet on a man who's courting my chicken-gal, which is
what Dick Socknersh is doing."

"Courting Martha Tilden?"

"Yes, my chicken-gal. And you think I'd look at him!--I!... You must
think middling low of me, Arthur Alce ... a man who's courting my
chicken-gal."

"I'd always thought as Martha Tilden--but you must know best. Well, if
he's courting her I hope as he'll marry her soon and show folks they're
wrong about him and you."

"They should ought to be ashamed of themselves to need showing. I look
at a man who's courting my chicken-gal!--I never! I tell you what I'll
do--I'll raise his wages, so as he can marry her at once--my
chicken-gal--and so as folk ull know that I'm satisfied with him as my
looker."

And Joanna marched off up the drive, where this conversation had taken
place.