‘If gals only knowed one is as good as another, but you couldn’t tell a gal e’er a word.’

‘A good provider is what you want.’

‘When I was a gal they was six horses tied to Pappy’s fence and one of them was Sol Beemen’s. He lives over in Nelson now and look, he owns a fine farm. His wife gets ten dozen eggs a day, they say. Sol Beemen.’

‘Over and above that, one man is as good as another, and all about alike, if gals only knowed.’

‘But lands sake! I must have Joe. I never see Sol when Joe is by.’

‘I ain’t never been sorry I took Dan, though. I never see the day I’d take anybody else.’

‘Hear Lute O’Shay talk!’

‘When they say, “Come see the bride,” I always say, “I’d rather see her in ten year. I’ll wait my time,” I say.’

‘Yes, teeth all gone. Back crooked.’

‘I say I’d rather see her in ten year from now.’

The dance went hurrying over the sand and the voices of Mr Jim and Jonas rolled forward the measures. Ellen sat by the fire of the women, unmissed, hearing their speech.

‘I saw Lenie May over in Nelson a while back, this summer it was. You remember Lenie May?’

‘Pretty as a picture, I remember. Shiny eyes and round cheeks. Ne’er other girl could hold a candle to Lenie. I remember one time…’

‘I see Lenie May last summer. Three a-cryen around her feet and the least one in arms, hardly got hit’s eyes open. And Lenie dragged out as thin as a fence rail, her cheeks hollow and her eyes, oh, my Lord!’

‘That’s what the gals want, fast as they can. Can’t wait to get in Lenie’s shoes.’

‘For all Lenie’s got one man’s as good as the next one.’

‘Under their shirts they’re all just alike, as I see.’

‘In the dark you couldn’t tell one from e’er other one.’

‘But the gals, they can’t wait to get in Lenie’s fix, fast as they can. Three a-cryen under foot and one in arms. And Lenie dragged out till she looks like a buzzard. Up by sunup to cook for Tom and up till midnight with the youngones, off and on, one and another always sick, teeth and bad colds and the least one colicky from the first.’

‘And not much to do with, Lenie May. Tom is right poor shucks at maken money.’

‘That’s hit. Tom can’t make no sight of money. Barely gets on.’

‘A good provider is what a body wants first and last. A man that’s got it in head to own a place and some property.’

‘Tom was a master hand at sweethearten though. That’s what caught Lenie May’s fancy. A regular bantum rooster. Tom could ’a’ had his pick of all the gals. Sweetheartenest man I ever see.’

‘Sallie Minervy wanted him. Remember?’

‘And Maudie Beam and Josie. Josie, oh, my Lord! She called Maudie a sight of hard names over hit. I recall how upset Josie was. Ready to gouge and fight that-there time over at Bethel Church.’