When Lovey opened his eyes again it was with the air of not having been asleep or otherwise away from us.
“I saved ye, Slim, didn’t I?”
“Yes, Lovey, old man, you did.”
“Kep’ straight so as you would keep straight too?”
“Yes, Lovey.”
“Ye’d never ’a’ done it if it ’adn’t been for me?”
“No, Lovey.”
“And I’d never ’a’ gone away from ye, Slim. I was just a—a-frightenin’ of you. I didn’t mean no ’arm at all, I didn’t.”
“I know, Lovey.”
He fixed his glazing eyes upon me as he said, “I told ye my name wasn’t Lovey, didn’t I?”