She laughed as a bull roars; her face turned purple; she fought for air; the veins rose like cords on her forehead.

She was pointed out to strangers like a public building as she sat on her veranda, gossiping with the neighbours in a voice that shook the windows.

There was no tongue like hers within a mile.

Her sayings were quoted like the newspaper.

Draymen laughed at her jokes.
Yet the women took their secret troubles to her.