"But it doesn't take long." Mrs. Dibbott put down her crochet work.
"Don't you think your friend Mr. Clark depends just a little too much
on individuals--I include himself in that?"
"Perhaps, but it didn't occur to me. At any rate we have a one man
concern."
"And if anything happened to him, what then?" Mrs. Dibbott's eyes were
bright with inquiry. "And suppose you break down, what about Elsie?"
"Elsie wouldn't be affected," he said slowly.
"Then you two are not engaged?"
"I thought we would be by this time but I guessed wrong."
Mrs. Dibbott was full of sympathy. "I suppose it serves me right for
poking my nose into other people's business. My, but I'm sorry!
What's the matter with Elsie?"
"Nothing."
"Then with you?"
"Nothing."
"May an old woman make a fool of herself?"
"Please--but it won't be that."
"Then has Elsie found some one else--if you don't mind my asking?"
"Possibly,--I can't say."
"But you're the only man in town who takes her anywhere. The judge is
fond of you, he told me so, and Mrs. Worden thinks you are the whole
world. What's the matter, Jimmy?"