How fare ye ?" "I'm miserable," replied the man.
"Well, ye don't look as ef ye felt fust-rate.

How did ye git in here ?" "Oh, I was damned when I died.

It's all right, I know; but it's terrible." "Why, ye don't think ye're in hell, do ye ?" inquired Jim.
"Don't you see ?" inquired the wretch, looking around him.
"Oh, yes; I see! I guess you're right," said Jim, falling in with his fancy.
"But where did you come from, Jim?
I never heard that you were dead." "Yes; I'm jest as dead as you be." "Well, what did you come here for ?" "Oh, I thought I'd call round," replied Jim carelessly.
"Did you come from Abraham's bosom ?" inquired Mr.Benedict eagerly.
"Straight." "I can't think why you should come to see me, into such a place as this!" said Benedict, wonderingly.
"Oh, I got kind o' oneasy.

Don't have much to do over there, ye know." "How did you get across the gulf ?" "I jest shoved over in a birch, an' ye must be perlite enough to return the call," replied Jim, in the most matter-of-course manner possible.
Benedict looked down upon his torn and wretched clothing, and then turned his pitiful eyes up to Jim, who saw the thoughts that were passing in the poor man's mind.
"Never mind your clo'es," he said.

"I dress jest the same there as I did in Number Nine, and nobody says a word.