Читать книгу Goose Creek Folks. A Story of the Kentucky Mountains онлайн

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Talitha turned back to her dishes with a sigh. Martin had escaped Uncle Shad’s equally acrimonious tongue and gone to interview Squire Dodd. He did not return until the old couple had taken their departure.

Gincy Gooch came over the very next afternoon. The dinner work was out of the way and Mrs. Coyle was spinning while Talitha sat on the doorstep at work on the “store goods” Martin had brought his mother for a new gown. Gincy watched the deft fingers wistfully.

“Pappy says you-uns hev larned a heap of things,” she remarked. “And you’ve changed a sight; ’most ’pears ter me you ain’t Tally Coyle any more.”

Talitha laughed. “Well, I am, and when you’ve been to Bentville a while you’ll change, too.”

“Kin you reely read books right off ’thout spellin’ out the big words?”

“Yes,” Talitha nodded, remembering her shortcomings of only a year ago. If she never went back to school how many things she had to be thankful for. “You’d like the singing, Gincy,” she said abruptly, “it’s so different from any music you ever heard.”