human
Sha'n't I carry your bag for you?
gpt
Oh, dear me, no, answered Mrs. Flagg.
human
My pocket's so remote, in case I should desire to sneeze or anything, that I thought 't would be convenient for carrying my handkerchief and pocket-book; an' then I just tucked in a couple o' glasses o' my crab-apple jelly for Mis' Timms. She used to be a great hand for preserves of every sort, an' I thought 't would be a kind of an attention, an' give rise to conversation. I know she used to make excellent drop-cakes when we was both residin' to Longport; folks used to say she never would give the right receipt, but if I get a real good chance, I mean to ask her. Or why can't you, if I start talkin' about receipts--why can't you say, sort of innocent, that I have always spoken frequently of her drop-cakes, an' ask for the rule? She would be very sensible to the compliment, and could pass it off if she didn't feel to indulge us. There, I do so wish you would!
gpt
Yes, 'm, said Miss Pickett doubtfully;
human
I'll try to make the opportunity. I'm very partial to drop-cakes. Was they flour or rye, Mis' Flagg?
gpt
They was flour, dear, replied Mrs. Flagg approvingly;
human
I wish I had thought to carry somethin' to make it pleasant, said Miss Pickett, after they had walked a little farther;
gpt
said Mrs. Flagg; but Miss Pickett made no response beyond a feeble
human
Yes, 'm,
gpt
There, 't ain't no use to fuss too much over all them things, proclaimed Mrs. Flagg, walking along at a good pace with a fine sway of her skirts, and carrying her head high.
human
Folks walks right by an' forgits all about you; folks can't always be going through with just so much. You'd had a good deal better time, you an' your ma, if you'd been freer in your ways; now don't you s'pose you would? 'T ain't what you give folks to eat so much as 't is makin' 'em feel welcome. Now, there's Mis' Timms; when we was to Longport she was dreadful methodical. She wouldn't let Cap'n Timms fetch nobody home to dinner without lettin' of her know, same's other cap'ns' wives had to submit to. I was thinkin', when she was so cordial over to Danby, how she'd softened with time. Years do learn folks somethin'! She did seem very pleasant an' desirous. There, I am so glad we got started; if she'd gone an' got up a real good dinner to-day, an' then not had us come till to-morrow, 't would have been real too bad. Where anybody lives alone such a thing is very tryin'.
gpt
Oh, so 't is! said Miss Pickett.
human
There, I'd like to tell you what I went through with year before last. They come an' asked me one Saturday night to entertain the minister, that time we was having candidates
gpt
I guess we'd better step along faster, said Mrs. Flagg suddenly.
human
Why, Miss Pickett, there's the stage comin' now! It's dreadful prompt, seems to me. Quick! there's folks awaitin', an' I sha'n't get to Baxter in no state to visit Mis' Cap'n Timms if I have to ride all the way there backward!