Now, call in Agnes. It's time for her bread and milk. If it weren't for that dear and faithful animal, I would have lost all faith in the goodness of human nature years ago."
By the timeshe died, Joe and Belinda had known Mrs Carpenter for quite a while, a relationship that had come about almost by chance.
"I want you to finish off your study of our community by taking a close look at the needs of the elderly - the old folk of our town," Mrs Robinson, their teacher, had said. "Find out what they think of life today. What was life like for them, the dear old souls, back in our wonderful pioneer days? Ah yes, class. There's so much we can learn from them all."
"She sure should know," Joe had said somewhat unwisely. "I reckon she's one of them oldies."
"I think that's a horrible thing for Joe Walsh to say about you, Mrs Robinson," Belinda had said, "and it's not even right! Well, it's not quite right. Not just yet, anyway."
"What do we mean by that, Belinda?" Mrs Robinson asked rather cunningly. "That old age is not quite nice? Is that it!"
She shook her head. "Oh, never mind. The way I feel most days - dragging myself out of bed in the mornings..."
