I wish every one was as sensible as I am," he lamented.

"I wouldn't miss a meal, or ten minutes' sleep, on account of any woman in creation," and Ware shook his head.
"So your sister doesn't like me ?" "No, she doesn't," said Ware, with simple candor.
"Told you to put a stop to my coming here ?" "Not here--to the house, yes.

She doesn't give a damn, so long as she doesn't have to see you." Murrell, somber-faced and thoughtful, examined a crack in the flooring.
"I'd like to know what happened back yonder in North Carolina to make her so blazing mad ?" continued Ware.
"Well, if you want to know, I told her I loved her." "That's all right, that's the fool talk girls like to hear," said Ware.
He lighted a cigar with an air of wearied patience.
"Open the door, Tom," commanded Murrell.
"It is close in here," agreed the planter.
"It isn't that, but you smoke the meanest cigars I ever smelt, I always think your shoes are on fire.

Tom, do you want to get rid of her?
Did you mean that ?" "Oh, shut up," said Tom, dropping his voice to a surly whisper.
There was a brief silence, during which Murrell studied his friend's face.

When he spoke, it was to give the conversation a new direction.
"Did she bring the boy here last night?
I saw you drive off with him in the carriage." "Yes, she makes a regular pet of the little ragamuffin--it's perfectly sickening!" "Who were the two men with him ?" "One of 'em calls himself judge Price; the other kept out of the way, I didn't hear his name." "Is the boy going to stay at Belle Plain ?" inquired Murrell.
"That notion hasn't struck her yet, for I heard her say at breakfast that she'd take him to Raleigh this afternoon." "That's the boy I traveled all the way to North Carolina to get for Fentress.