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           "ThenIcal’lateIwon’ttry,"retortedtheman,grimly,"speciallyasIhain’tgotmore’nTENterlive,anyhow,probably. You’dbettertellmefirstoff,Nancy." 

           "Well,listen,then. Whodoyous’poseisintheparlornowwiththemistress? Who,Isay?" 

           OldTomshookhishead. 

           "There’snotellin’,"hedeclared. 

           "Yes,thereis. I’mtellin’. It’s—JohnPendleton!" 

           "Sho,now! You’rejokin’,girl." 

           "NotmuchIam—an’mea-lettin’himinmyself—crutchesan’all! An’theteamhecomeina-waitin’thisminuteatthedoorforhim,jestasifhewa’n’tthecrankyoldcrosspatchheis,whatnevertalksternoone!jestthink,Mr.Tom—HIMa-callin’onHER!" 

           "Well,whynot?"demandedtheoldman,alittleaggressively. 

           Nancygavehimascornfulglance. 

           "Asifyoudidn’tknowbetter’nme!"shederided. 

           "Eh?" 

           "Oh,youneedn’tbesoinnercent,"sheretortedwithmockindignation; "—youwhatledmewildgoosechasin’inthefirstplace!" 

           "Whatdoyemean?" 

           Nancyglancedthroughtheopenbarndoortowardthehouse,andcameastepnearertotheoldman. 

           "Listen! ‘Twasyouthatwastellin’meMissPollyhadaloverinthefirstplace,wa’n’tit? Well,onedayIthinksIfindstwoandtwo,andIputs‘emtergetheran’makesfour. Butitturnsoutterbefive—an’nofouratall,atall!"