How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
The reason for her keeping them for so long was that they were not trash. They were good country people. (3)
This early passage shows us the three basic social classes Mrs. Hopewell is concerned with. She owns a successful farm and is of a high economic class, but she still has to work hard every day to keep things running. The people of the lower economic class, people she would hire to work for her, are divided into trash and good country people, though the criteria for each side isn't provided.
Quote #2
She had plenty of experience with trash. Before the Freeman's she averaged one tenant family per year. (12)
This is one of the lines that make some readers dislike Mrs. Hopewell. We suspect that if her turnover rate is that high there must be a problem with either her or her expectations. One point of the story is to get across how damaging labels like "trash" can be.
Quote #3
"Aren't you," she murmured, "aren't you just good country people?"
[…] "Yeah," he said, curling his lip slightly, "but it ain't held me back none. I'm as good as you any day in the week." (134-135)
Hulga is saying that she thinks Manley's too inferior to her to deceive her, but he's saying that a person's social, education, or economic class doesn't ultimately determine a person's ability to make their way in this world. Goodness knows he's made his way with her.