Sez he in a lower and more mortified tone, “It is the parlor.”
Sez I, “How be you goin’ to git out of this room if you wuz built into it? There hain’t no door nor no place for one. You couldn’t git out of the room unless you climbed up through the chimbly and emerged onto the ruff, and,” sez I, “there hain’t a sign of a stairway to git up into the chambers, nor no chamber doors.”
But all the answer my pardner made wuz to snatch up the paper and tear it right through the middle, and sez he, “There, I hope you’re satisfied now! it is all your doin’s!”
Sez I, “How, Josiah?” I spoke with calmness, for a long life passed by the side of a man had 206 taught me this great truth, that every man from Adam to Josiah will blame a woman for every mistake and blunder they make, no matter of what name or nater, from bringin’ sin into the world, to bustin’ off a shirt button.
So I sez with composure, “How did I do it, Josiah?”
“Well,” sez he, “the day I finished that plan you had company, and you and Miss Gowdey and she that wuz Submit Tewksbury kep’ up such a confounded clackin’ that a man couldn’t hear himself think!”
Sez I, “Josiah, you finished the plan the next day.”
“Well,” sez he, “I kep’ thinkin’ of the clack. Now,” sez he, “I’m goin’ to build a house by rote and not by note. I will git me away from wimmen, and when I’m on the lot with the timber before me, my mind will work clear.”
Sez I, “Do hear to me now; do git a good builder to lay out the plan, one that knows how.”
“Well, I shan’t do no such thing!”