‘Would it be the young man, maybe, the tall young man with the brown filly for his nag?’

‘Could I have a cup of water if it’s not too much trouble to you?’ Ellen asked.

Inside the house she drank from a dim can a sweetish water that was heavy and warm. ‘If you want fresh you could go to the spring and help yourself,’ the woman said, taking the cup away. ‘I got no call to be a-carryen water for big healthy trollops. Have you had bad luck with your sweethearten?’

Ellen thanked the woman for the water and said that she must hurry on.

‘If it’s bad luck that’s your worry I can mix a charm to bring your young man to your way right off, and he’ll court you and nobody else. It’s a powder to slip in his drink, water, coffee, anything. A dollar is what the price is. It’s a sure charm, never fails. A dollar. Give me your dollar, now, and I’ll give it in your hand right off.’

‘I don’t want no powder. I got no dollar.’

‘It’s a charm I make. For white gals I make it one way and for black wenches I make it another. I couldn’t tell you how I mix it, not for money, no. All you do is sprinkle it in his drink. I’ll let you have the charm for fifty cents. Just give me the money, four bits is all.’

‘I don’t want no charm.’

‘Get out the money and I’ll mix up the charm for a quarter. A quarter is all I ask from you. I see you’re a poor sort and I’ve taken a downright fancy to you. Or maybe it’s some other kind you want. I can tell.’ She drew near and whispered a rough old throaty whisper, her head forward, ‘Say, honey, I can mix something will help you out if it ain’t gone far. A quarter I ask for them powders, same price for both.’

‘I don’t want no powders. Is this-here a short way through to Barnet’s place?’

‘It might be. Is it some of the men there you aim to see, Prather maybe? He goes this road every day. You better let me get up the powders. Say, I’ll give you both kinds for the quarter.’

‘Where would he be now, so late in the day? Would he go by here afore night, do you reckon?’

‘Or maybe you’d like to have your fortune told. I can tell your fortune in no time, your true fortune, right outen your hand, and part of it outen the Bible with a door key, for ten cents. Or I’ll tell you what; I’ll tell your fortune and give you both powders, all for the quarter’s worth. I took a liken to you from the start. All for one quarter.’

Ellen went toward the door, wanting to go but held by the voice which had spoken of Jonas, by the fact that Jonas passed that door and had perhaps spoken to the woman within a day. She shook her head to the woman’s bargaining and moved toward the door, hesitating.