The next morning Kenelm, arrayed in his best, was early on hand to escort the lady of his choice to the Fair.The lady, herself, was ready and the pair drove away in Winnie S.'s depot-wagon bound for Wellmouth Centre and the train.Before she left the house Imogene made an earnest request.
"If you don't mind, ma'am," she said, addressing Mrs.Barnes, "Iwish you wouldn't say nothin' to nobody about Mr.Kenelm and me bein' engaged.And just ask the rest of 'em that heard the--the rough-house last night not to say anything, either, please.""Why, Imogene," said Thankful, "I didn't know you wanted it to be a secret.Seems to me you said yourself that it wasn't any secret.""Yes'm, I know I did.Well, I suppose 'tain't, in one way.But there ain't any use in advertisin' it, neither.Kenelm, he's promised to keep still.""But, Imogene, why? Seems to me if I was willin' to be engaged to that--to Kenelm, I wouldn't be ashamed to have folks know it.""Oh, I ain't ashamed exactly.I ain't ashamed of what I done, not a bit.Only what's the use of tellin'?""But you'll have to tell some time; when you're married, sartin.""Yes'm.Well, we ain't married--yet."
"But you're goin' to be, I should presume likely.""Maybe so; but not for a good while, anyhow.If I am it won't make any difference far's you and me are concerned, ma'am.Nor Mr.
Parker, either; he'll stay here and work long's you want him, married or not.And so'll I.""Well, I suppose that's one comfort, anyhow.I won't say anything about your engagement and I'll ask the others not to.But folks are bound to talk, Imogene.Miss Parker now--how are you goin' to stop her tellin'?"Imogene nodded knowingly."I shan't have to, I'll bet you, ma'am,"she said."She ain't so anxious to have it talked about--not s'long as there's a chance to break it off, she ain't.She'll keep still.""Maybe so, but folks'll suspect, I guess.They'll think somethin's queer when you and Kenelm go to the Cattle Show together today.""No, they won't.Why should they? Didn't Hannah Parker herself go yesterday with Mr.Hammond? And didn't Mr.Kendrick go with Miss Emily? Yes, and you with Cap'n Bangs? Lordy, ma'am, I--""Don't say 'Lordy,' Imogene," cautioned Thankful, and hastened away.Imogene looked after her and laughed to herself.
When Captain Obed made his morning call Mrs.Barnes told him of this conversation.
"And how is Hannah this mornin'?" asked Thankful."I was surprised enough to see Kenelm in that depot-wagon.I never thought for a minute she'd let him go."The captain chuckled."Let him!" he repeated."Why, Hannah helped him get ready; picked out his necktie for him and loaded him up with clean handkerchiefs and land knows what.She all but give him her blessin' afore he started; she did say she hoped he'd have a good time.""She did! Mercy on us! Is the world comin' to an end? Last night she was--""Yes, I know.Well, we've got to give Hannah credit; she's got a head on her shoulders, even if the head does run pretty strong to mouth.Imogene's took her measure, judgin' by what you said the girl said to you.Hannah's thought it over, I cal'late, and she figgers that while there's life there's hope, as you might say.
Her brother may be engaged, but he ain't married, and, s'long's he ain't, she's got a chance.You just see, Mrs.Thankful--you see if Hannah ain't sweeter to Kenelm from this on than a molasses jug stopper to a young one.She'll lay herself out to make his home the softest spot in creation, so he'll think twice before leavin'
it.That's her game, as I see it, and she'll play it.Give Hannah credit; she won't abandon the ship while there's a plank above water.Just watch and see."Thankful looked doubtful."Well, maybe so," she said."Maybe she will be nice to her brother, but how about the rest of us? She wouldn't speak to me last night, nor to Emily--and as for Imogene!""Yes, I know.But wait until she sees you, or Imogene either, next time.She'll be smooth as a smelt.I'll bet you anything she'll say that, after all, she guesses the engagement's a good thing and that Imogene's a nice girl.There's a whole lot in keepin' the feller you're fightin' off his guard until you've got him in a corner with his hands down.Last night Hannah give me my orders to mind my own business.This mornin' she cooked me the best breakfast I've had since I shipped aboard her vessel.And kept askin' me to have more.No, Imogene's right; Hannah'll play the game, and she'll play it quiet.As for tellin' anybody her brother's engaged, you needn't worry about that.She'll be the last one to tell."This prophecy seemed likely to prove true.The next time Thankful met Hannah the latter greeted her like a long-lost friend.During a long conversation she mentioned the subject of her brother's engagement but once and then at the very end of the interview.
"Oh, by the way, Mrs.Thankful," she said, "I do beg your pardon for carryin' on the way I did at your house t'other night.The news was pitched out at me so sudden that I was blowed right off my feet, as you might say.I acted real unlikely, I know; but, you see, Kenelm does mean so much to me that I couldn't bear to think of givin' him up to anybody else.When I come to think it over Irealized 'twa'n't no more'n I had ought to have expected.Imustn't be selfish and I ain't goin' to be.S'long's 'tain't that--that Jezebel of an Abbie Larkin I don't mind so much.I couldn't stand havin' her in the family--THAT I couldn't stand.Oh, and if you don't mind, Mrs.Thankful, just don't say nothin' about the engagin' yet awhile.I shouldn't mind, of course, but Kenelm, he's set on keepin' it secret for a spell.There! I must run on.I've got to go up to the store and get a can of that consecrated soup for supper.Have you tried them soups? They're awful cheap and handy.You just pour in hot water and there's more'n enough for a meal.Good-by."Imogene, when she returned from the Fair, announced that she had had a perfectly lovely time.
