- And ha-a-w's the old woman?"
At first I could not conceive whom he meant by this very homely
appellation; and I very simply asked him what person he alluded to,
as I had no old woman in my establishment.
"Why, YOUR old woman, to be sure - your missus - Mrs. Moodie,
I guess. You don't quite understand our language yet."
"O! now I understand you; she's quite well, I thank you; and how
is our friend Mrs. S - -?" I replied, laying a slight emphasis on
the MRS., by way of a gentle hint for his future guidance.
"Mrs. S - -, I guess she's smart, pret-ty CON-siderable. She'll
be right glad to see you, for you're pretty considerable of a
favour-ITE with her, I tell you; but now tell me what you will
drink? - for it's my treat."
As he said these words, he strutted into the tavern before me,
throwing his head and shoulders back, and rising on his tiptoes at
every step.
Mrs. S - - had been a very handsome woman, and still retained much
of her good looks.