"Perhaps I do."
"Ah-h-h! That's better. We're coming to grips."
As if contradicting this, the aggravating witch raised her head. Alfred grew desperate. Had he been browsing in a fool's paradise? The thought palsied speech. He spoke angrily:
"I see how 'tis. You lie awake shaking with laughter, thinking what I fool I am."
"Gracious! If you talk like that, I shall think so."
"I am a fool about you. 'Tis a fact. I ain't ashamed on't."
"Folks say...." She hesitated; her eyes twinkled demurely, but he couldn't see them.
"Well, what do folks say?"
"That you're a oner with girls, on and off like."
"On and off? You're throwing big Eliza at my head. If I was a true soldier man, always bragging about my victorious marches with women, I might tell you 'twas t'other way about. Being only a timorsome carrier, and a lover of God Almighty's truth, I say this. Eliza scairt the gizzard out of me, she did. I fair ran away from her audacious, ungenteel attacks. Now you have it."