`` I suppose she has heard that fool story too . I 'd like to know the person who started it ; man or woman , I 'd punch their head . '' Nevertheless , Young Thomas went on looking at Adelia by fits and starts , although he did not again catch Adelia looking at him . He noticed that she had round rosy cheeks and twinkling brown eyes . She did not look like an old maid , and Young Thomas wondered that she had been allowed to become one . Sarah Barnett , now , to whom report had married him a year ago , looked like a dried sour apple . * * * * * For the next four weeks the story haunted Young Thomas like a spectre . Down it would not . Everywhere he went he was joked about it . It gathered fresh detail every week . Adelia was getting her clothes ready ; she was to be married in seal-brown cashmere ; Vinnie Lawrence at Valley Centre was making it for her ; she had got a new hat with a long ostrich plume ; some said white , some said grey . Young Thomas kept wondering who the man could be , for he was convinced that Adelia was going to marry somebody . More than that , once he caught himself wondering enviously . Adelia was a nice-looking woman , and he had not so far heard of any probable housekeeper . `` Dang it all , '' said Young Thomas to himself in desperation . `` I would n't care if it was true . '' His married sister from Carlisle heard the story and came over to investigate . Young Thomas denied it shortly , and his sister scolded . She had devoutly hoped it was true , she said , and it would have been a great weight off her mind . `` This house is in a disgraceful condition , Thomas , '' she said severely .
`` It would break Mother 's heart XXXXX she could rise out of her grave to see it .
For about at from if off than that to with