"Jimmie, you won't leave me? It gets so dark and—the mice—"
"You couldn't pry me away with a crowbar, ma! I'll hold you till you yell leggo. Lemme go for old Gibbs, ma; you're breathing heavy as a pump."
"No, no, Jimmie; don't leave me."
"Sure I won't; but you're all twitchin' and jumpin', ma. Just leave me run down and send Lizzie Marks for him."
"No, no, Jimmie; I'm all right."
"Sure, ma? You—you're actin' up so funny."
"It ain't nothin'—only I'm an old woman, Jimmie. All of a sudden I got old and broke. It ain't the same in the department, Jimmie, with Essie gone from the notions across the aisle. Always when we were overstocked in the corsets she—she—Essie—"
"Aw, ma, you ain't talkin' straight. Lemme have old man Gibbs."
"I'm talking straight, Jimmie. Ain't I layin' right here in your arms and ain't my hair caught round one of your brass buttons?—quit pullin', Jimmie! Essie's hair is so bright, Jimmie. I can see it shinin' in the dark when she's sleepin'."
"Some hair the kid's got! Remember the night you took me and her to—"