He was in no hurry to go home for he loved gossip dearly and the Wexbridge stores abounded with it . He had exhausted the news of Peter Stanley 's store across the bridge and now he meant to hear what was saying at Plowden 's . Bruce Marshall was there , too , buying groceries and being waited on by Nora Plowden , who was by no means averse to the service , although as a rule her father 's customers received scanty tolerance at her hands . `` What are the Valley roads like , Marshall ? '' asked a Wexbridge man , between two squirts of tobacco juice . `` Bad , '' said Bruce briefly . `` Another warm day will finish the sleighing . '' `` Are they crossing at Malley 's Creek yet ? '' asked Plowden . `` No , Jack Carr got in there day before yesterday . Nearly lost his mare . I came round by the main road , '' responded Bruce . The door opened at this point and Tony Mack came in . As soon as he closed the door he doubled up in a fit of chuckles , which lasted until he was purple in the face . `` Is the man crazy ? '' demanded Plowden , who had never seen lean little Tony visited like this before . `` Crazy nothin ' , '' retorted Tony . `` You 'll laugh too , when you hear it . Such a joke ! Hee-tee-tee-hee-e .
Theodora Whitney has been badgering Judith Stewart so much about bein ' an old maid that Judith 's got mad and vowed she 'll marry the first XXXXX that asks her .
face father fit groceries hands juice laugh man mare tolerance