His wife glanced significantly about Young Thomas 's big , untidy sitting-room , where there were cobwebs on the ceiling and fluff in the corners and dust on the mop-board , and said nothing , but looked volumes . `` Dang it all , '' said Young Thomas , as they drove away , `` they 'll marry me yet in spite of myself . '' The gossip made him think about Adelia Williams . He had never thought about her before ; he was barely acquainted with her . Now he remembered that she was a plump , jolly-looking little woman , noted for being a good housekeeper . Then Young Thomas groaned , remembering that he must start out looking for a housekeeper soon ; and housekeepers were not easily found , as Young Thomas had discovered several times since his mother 's death ten years before . Next Sunday in church Young Thomas looked at Adelia Williams . He caught Adelia looking at him . Adelia blushed and looked guiltily away . `` Dang it all , '' reflected Young Thomas , forgetting that he was in church . `` 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 XXXXX a long ostrich plume ; some said white , some said grey .
Down For about as at before like since to with