She told how that fool doctor had come there and taken “hit off, makin’ out like Cate’d die of hit ef he didn’t,” and how “Cassandry Merlin had done cheated her into goin’ off so ‘t she could bide thar at the cabin alone with that doctah man herself an’ he’p him do hit.”

With her snuff stick between her yellow teeth and her numerous progeny squatting in the dirt all about the doorway, idly gazing at Frale, she retailed her grievances without reserve. How the wife of Hoke Belew had been “ailin’,” and Cassandra had “be’n thar ev’y day keerin’ fer her. I ‘low she jes’ goes ‘cause she ‘lows she’ll see that doctah man thar an’ ride back with him like she done when she brung him