And then he would n't have needed me . I 'd have been of no use to him . As it is , it 's just me he needs to look after him and coddle him . Oh , it 's fine to have somebody to do things for , somebody that belongs to you . I was just dreading the loneliness of the winter , and now it 's going to be such a happy winter . I declare last night Ralph and I sat up till morning talking over everything . He 's had a hard life of it . Bad luck and illness right along . And last winter in the lumber woods he got his leg broke . But now he 's come home and we 're never going to be parted again as long as we live . I could sing for joy , Jacob . '' `` Oh , sure , '' assented Jacob cordially . He felt a little dazed . Miss Hannah 's nimble change of base was hard for him to follow , and he had an injured sense of having wasted a great deal of commiseration on her when she did n't need it at all . `` Only I kind of thought , we all thought , you had such plans . '' `` Well , they served their turn , '' interrupted Miss Hannah briskly . `` They amused me and kept me interested till something real would come in their place . If I 'd had to carry them out I dare say they 'd have bothered me a lot . Things are more comfortable as they are . I 'm happy as a bird , Jacob . ''
`` Oh , sure , '' said XXXXX .
Hannah Jacob Ralph commiseration illness life morning right somebody winter