It was so still , except for the slow tick of the `` grandfather 's clock '' and the soft purr and crackle of the wood in the stove . Josephine sat down by the window . `` I wish some of the Sentners would run down , '' she said aloud . `` If David had n't been so ridiculous I 'd have got him to stay the evening . He can be good company when he likes -- he 's real well-read and intelligent . And he must have dismal times at home there with nobody but Zillah . '' She looked across the yard to the little house at the other side of it , where her French-Canadian hired man lived , and watched the purple spiral of smoke from its chimney curling up against the crocus sky . Would she run over and see Mrs. Leon Poirier and her little black-eyed , brown-skinned baby ? No , they never knew what to say to each other . `` If 't was n't so cold I 'd go up and see Ida , '' she said . `` As it is , I guess I 'd better fall back on my knitting , for I saw Jimmy Sentner 's toes sticking through his socks the other day . How setback poor David did look , to be sure ! But I think I 've settled that marrying notion of his once for all and I 'm glad of it . '' She said the same thing next day to Mrs. Tom Sentner , who had come down to help her pick her geese . They were at work in the kitchen with a big tubful of feathers between them , and on the table a row of dead birds , which Leon had killed and brought in . Josephine was enveloped in a shapeless print wrapper , and had an apron tied tightly around her head to keep the down out of her beautiful hair , of which she was rather proud . `` What do you think , Ida ? '' she said , with a hearty laugh at the recollection . `` David Hartley was here to tea last night , and asked me to marry him again . There 's a persistent man for you .
I ca n't brag XXXXX ever having had many beaux , but I 've certainly had my fair share of proposals . ''
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