He studied the first page for a long time. Then he settled back against the wall again, apparently absorbed in the book.
Swickey stood patiently waiting. She shifted from one foot to the other. Tick-tack. Tick-tack. The cabin was silent save for the rhythmic perseverance of the old clock. Smoke lay in front of the stove watching her.
“Barney!”
He glanced up, a surprised expression seaming his forehead.
“Kin you read—so’st I kin hear?”
“Why, sure!”
The suggestion seemed a novel idea to him. He turned back to the first page and began slowly, often pausing to illustrate the meaning with colloquialisms that to Swickey were decidedly interesting. He had already read the first page and he intended to make it last as long as possible. He felt fairly safe on the ground he had already covered, but new territory loomed ahead. “Let’s see,” he said, approximating the pronunciation of an unfamiliar word, “c-o-n-v-” but the stamping of feet on the porch saved him.
Avery and Ross entered, ruddy with exercise. Smoke raised his head and dropped it again with a grunt of satisfaction.
“Wal, Barney, how’s the feet?” said Avery, drawing off his mittens.
“Siz’able,” he replied.