"He'll carry her through the Candlemas meet," he said, which was the second of February, a fortnight and more off; and went home.Jacky the potboy wrote it up at nine to one, and Zadok Tinsley, who did not keep the book, gave it.A black cat in the house is luck. Everybody in Sedgebrook knew that, and had known it from their grandmothers: a black cat crossing to your door brings money, and a black cat that stays brings a wedding. This story does not know whether that is true. The village did, and the slate in the tap-room said it in figures.Enos Bletsoe said his piece to Zadok on the Saturday at the bar, and he said it civilly, because he was a civil young man, and he was surprised to be saying it at all."I'd thought," he said, "the kitchen was settled. I'd thought Abigail and I had an understanding, near enough. My father thought so.""Did she say so?" said Zadok."Not in words.""Then it wasn't settled," said Zadok Tinsley, and drew him a pint, and gave nine to one.Abigail was in the kitchen doorway with a cloth in her hand, and had heard it, and went back in and wiped down the dresser, which she had wiped down, and wiped it again, and stood a moment with her hand flat on the wood.The nights went on as they had begun. The grey, Hailstone, was shod by the Wednesday. Rhoda Mabbott had read both feet before she touched them, and when he began to fidget at the second, she spoke without looking up.