`` Just as soon as I can hitch up , cousin ; '' and Saul pitched in his last log , looking ready to put a girdle round the earth in less than forty minutes . `` Well , dear , I ai n't the least mite of objection , as long as it pleases you . I guess we can stan ' it ef your city folks can . I presume to say things will look kind of sing ` lar to 'em , but I s ` pose that 's what they come for . Idle folks do dreadful queer things to amuse 'em ; '' and Aunt Plumy leaned on the rolling-pin to smile and nod with a shrewd twinkle of her eye , as if she enjoyed the prospect as much as Sophie did . `` I shall be afraid of 'em , but I 'll try not to make you ashamed of me , '' said Ruth , who loved her charming cousin even more than she admired her . `` No fear of that , dear . They will be the awkward ones , and you must set them at ease by just being your simple selves , and treating them as if they were every-day people . Nell is very nice and jolly when she drops her city ways , as she must here . She will enter into the spirit of the fun at once , and I know you 'll all like her . Mr. Randal is rather the worse for too much praise and petting , as successful people are apt to be , so a little plain talk and rough work will do him good . He is a true gentleman in spite of his airs and elegance , and he will take it all in good part , if you treat him like a man and not a lion . '' `` I 'll see to him , '' said Saul , who had listened with great interest to the latter part of Sophie 's speech , evidently suspecting a lover , and enjoying the idea of supplying him with a liberal amount of `` plain talk and rough work . '' `` I 'll keep 'em busy if that 's what they need , for there will be a sight to do , and we ca n't get help easy up here . Our darters do n't hire out much . Work to home till they marry , and do n't go gaddin ' ` round gettin ' their heads full of foolish notions , and forgettin ' all the useful things their mothers taught 'em . '' Aunt Plumy glanced at Ruth as she spoke , and a sudden color in the girl 's cheeks proved that the words hit certain ambitious fancies of this pretty daughter of the house of Basset . `` They shall do their parts and not be a trouble ; I 'll see to that , for you certainly are the dearest aunt in the world to let me take possession of you and yours in this way , '' cried Sophie , embracing the old lady with warmth . Saul wished the embrace could be returned by proxy , as his mother 's hands were too floury to do more than hover affectionately round the delicate face that looked so fresh and young beside her wrinkled one . As it could not be done , he fled temptation and `` hitched up '' without delay .
The three women laid their heads together in his absence , and Sophie 's plan grew apace , for XXXXX longed to see a real novelist and a fine lady , and Aunt Plumy , having plans of her own to further , said `` Yes , dear , '' to every suggestion .
Nell Plumy Randal Ruth Sophie darters ef gettin liberal minutes