I turned around and walked slow toward the bedroom. The three other grown-ups sat like stone statures. As I pushed aside the curtains, Marthy jumped across the room and grabbed me by the arm.
“Hiram!” she cried eager, “You won't be too severe? You won't git mad and hurt her?”
“Marthy,” I says, “if you want to spank her, do so. If you want me to spank her, don't you mix in.” I shook her hand off of me, and she went back to her chair cryin'.
Well, I went into that bedroom. Deedee left off cryin' when she seen me, and in the dim light I could see her standin' in the crib. I stuck out my hand to take her, and she hung on to it.
“Papa, laim!” she begged.
“Edith,” I says, hoarse in my throat, “you 've been naughty. Papa told you to go to sleep, and mama told you to go to sleep. When we tell you to go to sleep, you've got to go to sleep. Now, this is the last time I'm goin' to tell you. Will you lie down and go to sleep?”
“Papa, laim!” she says, impatient.
I set my mouth and lifted her up and laid her on the bed on her face and held her there. She struggled and yelled.
“Be quiet!” I says, “be quiet, or I will spank you!”
She gave one long, lingerin' cry for “laim.”