human
I don't know but you think it's foolish to tie 'em up this afternoon, she said presently, as she wound the first with a stout string.
gpt
I thought I could put 'em in a bucket o' water out in the shed, where there's a draught o' air, and then I should have all my time in the morning. I shall have a good deal to do before I go. I always sweep the setting-room and front entry Wednesdays. I want to leave everything nice, goin' away for all day so. So I meant to get the flowers out o' the way this afternoon. Why, it's most half past four, ain't it? But I sha'n't pick the rose till mornin'; 't will be blowed out better then.
human
The rose? questioned Miss Pendexter.
gpt
Why, are you goin' to pick that, too?
human
Yes, I be. I never like to let 'em fade on the bush. There, that's just what's a-troublin' me, and she turned to give a long, imploring look at the friend who sat beside her. Miss Pendexter had moved her chair before the table in order to be out of the way of the sun.
gpt
I don't seem to know which of 'em ought to have it, said Mrs. Bickford despondently.
human
I do so hate to make a choice between 'em; they all had their good points, especially Mr. Bickford, and I respected 'em all. I don't know but what I think of one on 'em 'most as much as I do of the other.
gpt
Why, 'tis difficult for you, ain't it? responded Miss Pendexter.
human
I don't know's I can offer advice.
gpt
No, I s'pose not, answered her friend slowly, with a shadow of disappointment coming over her calm face.
human
I feel sure you would if you could, Abby.
gpt
There's one thing,--they're all in a better world now, said Miss Pendexter, in a self-conscious and constrained voice;
human
No; I suppose 't is myself that wants to be just, answered Mrs. Bickford.
gpt
I feel under obligations to my last husband when I look about and see how comfortable he left me. Poor Mr. Wallis had his great projects, an' perhaps if he'd lived longer he'd have made a record; but when he died he'd failed all up, owing to that patent corn-sheller he'd put everything into, and, as you know, I had to get along 'most any way I could for the next few years. Life was very disappointing with Mr. Wallis, but he meant well, an' used to be an amiable person to dwell with, until his temper got spoilt makin' so many hopes an' havin' 'em turn out failures. He had consider'ble of an air, an' dressed very handsome when I was first acquainted with him, Mr. Wallis did. I don't know's you ever knew Mr. Wallis in his prime?
human
He died the year I moved over here from North Denfield, said Miss Pendexter, in a tone of sympathy.
gpt
I just knew him by sight. I was to his funeral. You know you lived in what we call the Wells house then, and I felt it wouldn't be an intrusion, we was such near neighbors. The first time I ever was in your house was just before that, when he was sick, an' Mary 'Becca Wade an' I called to see if there was anything we could do.
human
They used to say about town that Mr. Wallis went to an' fro like a mail-coach an' brought nothin' to pass, announced Mrs. Bickford without bitterness.
gpt
He ought to have had a better chance than he did in this little neighborhood. You see, he had excellent ideas, but he never'd learned the machinist's trade, and there was somethin' the matter with every model he contrived. I used to be real narrow-minded when he talked about moving 'way up to Lowell, or some o' them places; I hated to think of leaving my folks; and now I see that I never done right by him. His ideas was good. I know once he was on a jury, and there was a man stopping to the tavern where he was, near the court house, a man that traveled for a firm to Lowell; and they engaged in talk, an' Mr. Wallis let out some o' his notions an' contrivances, an' he said that man wouldn't hardly stop to eat, he was so interested, an' said he'd look for a chance for him up to Lowell. It all sounded so well that I kind of begun to think about goin' myself. Mr. Wallis said we'd close the house here, and go an' board through the winter. But he never heard a word from him, and the disappointment was one he never got over. I think of it now different from what I did then. I often used to be kind of disapproving to Mr. Wallis; but there, he used to be always tellin' over his great projects. Somebody told me once that a man by the same name of the one he met while he was to court had got some patents for the very things Mr. Wallis used to be workin' over; but 't was after he died, an' I don't know's 't was in him to ever really set things up so other folks could ha' seen their value. His machines always used to work kind of rickety, but folks used to come from all round to see 'em; they was curiosities if they wa'n't nothin' else, an' gave him a name.
human
He was a dreadful notional man, she said at last, regretfully, and as if this fact were a poor substitute for what had just been in her mind.
gpt
I recollect one time he worked all through the early winter over my churn, an' got it so it would go three quarters of an hour all of itself if you wound it up; an' if you'll believe it, he went an' spent all that time for nothin' when the cow was dry, an' we was with difficulty borrowin' a pint o' milk a day somewheres in the neighborhood just to get along with. Mrs. Bickford flushed with displeasure, and turned to look at her visitor.
human
Now what do you think of such a man as that, Miss Pendexter?
gpt
Why, I don't know but 't was just as good for an invention,
human
Then I asked him where it was, one day that spring when I'd got tired to death churnin', an' the butter wouldn't come in a churn I'd had to borrow, and he'd gone an' took ours all to pieces to get the works to make some other useless contrivance with. He had no sort of a business turn, but he was well meanin', Mr. Wallis was, an' full o' divertin' talk; they used to call him very good company. I see now that he never had no proper chance. I've always regretted Mr. Wallis,
gpt
I'm sure you always speak well of him, said Miss Pendexter.
human
I was left very poor an' needy for them next few years, said Mrs. Bickford mournfully;
gpt
Yes 'm, you've everything to be thankful for, said Miss Pendexter, who was as poor herself at that moment as her friend had ever been, and who could never dream of venturing upon the support and companionship of a pig.
human
Mr. Bickford was a very personable man,
gpt
Oh, very, replied Mrs. Bickford;
human
Them is lovely bo'quets, certain! exclaimed Miss Pendexter.
gpt
Why, I couldn't tell 'em apart; the flowers are comin' out just right, aren't they?
human
I always seem to forget about your first husband, Mr. Fraley, Miss Pendexter suggested bravely.
gpt
I've often heard you speak of him, too, but he'd passed away long before I ever knew you.
human
He was but a boy, said Mrs. Bickford.
gpt
I thought the world was done for me when he died, but I've often thought since 't was a mercy for him. He come of a very melancholy family, and all his brothers an' sisters enjoyed poor health; it might have been his lot. Folks said we was as pretty a couple as ever come into church; we was both dark, with black eyes an' a good deal o' color,--you wouldn't expect it to see me now. Albert was one that held up his head, and looked as if he meant to own the town, an' he had a good word for everybody. I don't know what the years might have brought.
human
I expect 't was what they call fallin' in love, she added, in a different tone;
gpt
I must hurry now an' put these in water,