I knew you didn't really mean it.

I didn't ask you, dear, to go to _work_,--only to be company for me." "And I ask you to stay at home, and be company for _me_.

I'm sure it is lonesome enough here, and you are off on business almost all your days; and you might stay with me Sundays.

You could hire some poor, pious young man to do all the work over there.

There are plenty of them, dear knows, that it would be a real charity to help, and that could preach and pray better than you can, I know.