What did I understand you to say, Mr. Crane?--a few minnits' conversation with me? Deary me! Is it anything pertickler, Mr. Crane? Oh, dear suz! how you _dew_ frustrate me! Not that it's anything oncommon fer the gentlemen to ax to have private conversations with me, you know; but then--but then--bein' you, it's different: circumstances alter cases, you know. What was you a-gwine to say, Mr. Crane? Oh, no, Mr. Crane, by no manner o' means; 'tain't a minute tew soon for you to begin to talk about gittin' married ag'in. I am amazed you should be afeerd I'd think so. See--how long's Miss Crane been dead? Six months!--land o' Goshen!--why, I've know'd a number of individdiwals get married in less time than that. There's Phil Bennet's widder 't I was a-talkin' about jest now,--she 'twas Louisy Perce: her husband hadn't been dead but _three_ months, you know. I don't think it looks well for a _woman_ to be in such a hurry; but for a _man_ it's a different thing: circumstances alter cases, you know. And then, sittiwated as you be, Mr. Crane, it's a turrible thing for your family to be without a head to superintend the domestic consarns and 'tend to the children,--to say nothin' o' yerself, Mr. Crane. You dew need a companion, and no mistake. Six months! Good grevious! Why, Squire Titus didn't wait but six _weeks_ after he buried his fust wife afore he married his second. I thought ther' wa'n't no partickler need o' his hurryin' so, seein' his family was all growed up. Such a critter as he pickt out, tew! 'Twas very onsuitable; but every man to his taste,--I hain't no dispersition to meddle with nobody's consarns. There's old farmer Dawson, tew,--his pardner hain't ben dead but ten months. To be sure, he ain't married yet; but he would 'a' ben long enough ago, if somebody I know on 'd gin him any incurridgement. But 'tain't for me to speak o' that matter. He's a clever old critter, and as rich as a Jew; but--lawful sakes!--he's old enough to be my father. And there's Mr. Smith,--Jubiter Smith: you know him, Mr. Crane,--his wife, (she 't was Aurory Pike) she died last summer, and he's ben squintin' round among the wimmin ever since, and he _may_ squint for all the good it'll dew him so far as I'm consarned,--though Mr. Smith's a respectable man,--quite young and hain't no family,--very well off, tew, and quite intellectible,--but I'm purty partickler. Oh, Mr. Crane, it's ten years come Jinniwary sense I witnessed the expiration o' my belovid companion!--an uncommon long time to wait, to be sure; but 'tain't easy to find anybody to fill the place o' Hezekier Bedott. I think _you're_ the most like husband of ary individdiwal I ever see, Mr. Crane. Six months! murderation! cur'us you should be afeard I'd think 'twas too soon. Why, I've knowed-- _Mr. Crane_--Well, widder, I've been thinking about taking another companion, and I thought I'd ask you--