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Late one morning, a Bible salesman carrying a heavy black valise arrives at the Hopewell house. Mrs. Hopewell invites him into the house reluctantly. He asks her about the absence of a Bible in her parlor. She does not tell him that her atheist daughter doesn’t allow it. Instead, she lies to him, saying her Bible is by her bedside. In reality, it is somewhere in the attic.
Sensing that Mrs. Hopewell is trying to get rid of him, the young man says that he doesn’t get much respect from people because he is just a simple country boy. This remark changes Hopewell’s attitude toward him. She tells him that “good country people are the salt of the earth” and that there aren’t enough of them in the world. He introduces himself as Manley Pointer. As Mrs. Hopewell excuses herself to check on the dinner cooking in the kitchen, Hulga tells her to get rid of him. Mrs. Hopewell refuses because she cannot be rude to anyone.
Once Mrs. Hopewell is back in the parlor, Manley tries to win her over. He tells her that he didn’t go to college. Instead, he explains that he has chosen to devote his life to Christian service, saying that he has a weak heart. Mrs. Hopewell feels sympathy for Manley because of Hulga’s weak heart and invites him to stay for dinner.
During the meal, Hulga pretends to ignore Manley and his remarks. To make up for Hulga’s rude behavior, Mrs. Hopewell encourages Manley to talk about himself. He tells them about his humble background. He says he lost his father when he was just eight years old. His widowed mother worked hard, sent the children to Sunday school, and read the Bible with them each night. Manley’s earnest ways and sincerity impress her.
After dinner, Hulga disappears while Mrs. Hopewell listens to Manley talk about himself for another two hours. Mrs. Hopewell stifles several yawns and is clearly bored with his stories. She finally tells him she must go to an appointment in town. Manley leaves but not without her promise that he be allowed to visit again. As he leaves, Mrs. Hopewell sees him stop and talk with Hulga, who walks him to the gate. She wonders what they say to each other, but she does not dare ask Hulga about the conversation.
The next morning, Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman discuss in detail Glynese’s most recent date and marriage proposal and then Carramae’s pregnancy-related ailments. Hulga joins them at the table, hoping the conversation stays on Mrs. Freeman’s girls and not her mysterious conversation with Manley. Mrs. Hopewell praises Glynese’s common sense in front of Hulga before shifting the topic to the Bible salesman, whom she again calls “good country people” and “the salt of the earth,” although he bored her.
Rather than discuss Manley, Hulga noisily stomps off to her room and locks her door. The narrator flashes back to their conversation the previous afternoon, in which Manley is clearly interested in her. Hulga lies to him when he asks her age, saying she is seventeen. He invites her to have a picnic the next day. She accepts, imagining herself seducing the stupid country boy and teaching him the cold facts of life.
