Just now he wanted to make sure the Pilgrim wasn't getting more smiles than were coming to him--and if you had left the decision of that with Billy, the Pilgrim would have had none at all.
"I wisht he'd _do_ something I could lay my finger on--damn him," he reflected.

"I can't kick him out on the strength uh my own private opinion.

I'd just simply lay myself wide open to all kinds uh remarks.

I _ain't_ jealous; he ain't got any particular stand-in with Flora--but if I started action on him, that's what the general verdict would be.

Oh, thunder!" Nothing of his thoughts showed in his manner when he went out to where they were.