Like as not, Betsey Malcolm's more nor half your trouble in that quarter." "But she said--" "It don't matter three quarters of a rotten rye-straw what she said, my inexper'enced friend.

She don't keer what she says, so long as it's fur enough away from the truth to sarve her turn.

An' she's told pay-tent double-back-action lies that worked both ways.

What do you 'low Jule Anderson tho't when she hearn tell of your courtin' Betsey, as Betsey told it, with all her nods an' little crowin'?
Now looky here, Gus, I'm your friend, as the Irishman said to the bar that hugged him, an' I want to say about all that air that Betsey told you, spit on the slate an' wipe that all off.

They's lie in her soap an.' right smart chance of saft-soap in her lie, I 'low." These rough words of Jonas brought a strange intelligence into the mind of August.