human
If Betsey knowed Ebeneezer was dead, she wouldn't hesitate none about comin', typhoid or no typhoid. Mebbe it was her fault some, for Ebeneezer wa'n't to blame for his drinkin' water no more 'n I'd be. Our minister used to say that there was no discipline for the soul like livin' with folks, year in an' year out hand-runnin', an' Betsey is naturally that kind. Ebeneezer always lived plain, but we're all simple folks, not carin' much for style, so we never minded it. The air's good up here an' I dunno any better place to spend the Summer. My gracious! You be n't sick, be you?
gpt
I don't know what to do, murmured Dorothy, her white lips scarcely moving;
human
I don't know what to do.
gpt
Well, now, responded Mrs. Dodd,
human
I can see that I've upset you some. Perhaps you're one of them people that don't like to have other folks around you. I've heard of such, comin' from the city. Why, I knew a woman that lived in the city, an' she said she didn't know the name of the woman next door to her after livin' there over eight months,--an' their windows lookin' right into each other, too.
gpt
I hate people! cried Dorothy, in a passion of anger.
human
I don't want anybody here but my husband and Mrs. Smithers!
gpt
Set quiet, my dear, an' make your mind easy. I'm sure Ebeneezer never intended his death to make any difference in my spendin' the Summer here, especially when I'm fresh from another bereavement, but if you're in earnest about closin' your doors on your poor dead aunt's relations, why I'll see what I can do.
human
Oh, if you could! Dorothy almost screamed the words.
gpt
If you can keep any more people from coming here, I'll bless you for ever.
human
Poor child, I can see that you're considerable upset. Just get me the pen an' ink an' some paper an' envelopes an' I'll set down right now an' write to the connection an' tell 'em that Ebeneezer's dead an' bein' of unsound mind at the last has willed the house to strangers who refuse to open their doors to the blood relations of poor dead Rebecca. That's all I can do an' I can't promise that it'll work. Ebeneezer writ several times to us all that he didn't feel like havin' no more company, but Rebecca's relatives was all of a forgivin' disposition an' never laid it up against him. We all kep' on a-comin' just the same.
gpt
Tell them, cried Dorothy her eyes unusually bright and her cheeks burning,
human
Just you leave it all to me, my dear, said Mrs. Dodd, soothingly.
gpt
On account of the connection bein' so differently constituted, I'll have to tell 'em all different. Disease would keep away some an' fetch others. Betsey Skiles, now, she feels to turn her hand to nursin' an' I've knowed her to go miles in the dead of Winter to set up with a stranger that had some disease she wa'n't familiar with. Dogs would bring others an' only scare a few. Just you leave it all to me. There ain't never no use in borrerin' trouble an' givin' up your peace of mind as security, 'cause you don't never get the security back. I've been married enough to know that there's plenty of trouble in life besides what's looked for, an' it'll get in, without your holdin' open the door an' spreadin' a mat out with 'Welcome' on it. Did Ebeneezer leave any property?
human
Only the house and furniture,
gpt
Rebecca had a big diamond pin, said Mrs. Dodd, after a brief silence,
human
No, I haven't seen it 'laying around,'
gpt
Well, continued Mrs. Dodd, easily, nibbling her pen holder,
human
Willing! cried Dorothy,
gpt
I should say yes!