Hank?"

"You dern ijut!" says Hank, "you quit mocking
me and get a ladder, and when I get out'n here I'll
learn you to ast what did I want to jump in here
fur!"

"You never seen the day you could do it," says
Tom Alexander, meaning the day he could lick
him. "And if you feel that way about it you can
stay there fur all of me. I guess a little water
won't hurt you none." And he left the house.

"Elmira," sings out Hank, mad and bossy, "you
go get me a ladder!"

But Elmira, her temper riz up too, all of
a sudden.

"Don't you dare order me around like I was the
dirt under your feet, Hennerey Walters," she says.

At that Hank fairly roared, he was so mad. He
says:

"Elmira, when I get out'n here I'll give you what
you won't fergit in a hurry. I hearn you a-forgiving
me and a-weeping over me, and I won't be forgive
nor weeped over by no one! You go and get that
ladder."