noon
asked Betty in a low voice . `` Yes 'm ; he up town . '' The old man 's tone sank at once to the level of her own ; became confidential , as one speaks to another in a room where somebody is ill . `` He mekkin ' perpetration to go down de rivuh dis aft ` noon . He say he done broke de news to you dat he goin ' ` way . Dey goin ' buil ' dem wa ` house right up , an ' yo ' pa he necistate go ` way ` count de contrack . He be gone two week ' , honey , '' Nelson finished , without too much the air of imparting cheery tidings , but with just enough .