"John knew what took the life out of me, from that day on. He used to say if he ever laid eyes on that little bullet-headed, rat-eyed sport, as he called him, he'd shake the life out of him. Just like that!"
"Faugh! he wouldn't 'a' had the nerve!"
"Don't you forget he knew what was eatin' us, Cottie."
"Well, wasn't it our right—a beauty like you in this dump?"
"And you?"
Their faces, startlingly alike, were upturned, and in their eyes was the golden fluid of dawn.
"He knew. You remember that letter Lily wrote when you asked her to get you in her show?"
"Do I?"
"He found it in my pocket one night and read it, and laughed and laughed. He used to know it by heart, and he'd cackle it to me whenever he caught me red-eyed from cryin'."
"That letter she wrote out of jealousy? He seen that?"