But the opiates made the little creeter look wan and pale and sleepy more’n half the time, and I said to Miss Greene Smythe in this conversation, it seemed a shame to have her little constitution all ruined in that way onbeknown to her, before she wuz old enough to defend it. But she said she guessed she didn’t give Angenora very much, she wuz a pale child naturally.
But I see her attention wuz wanderin’ from what I wuz sayin’ to sunthin she wuz beholdin’ on the inside of her mind, and anon she asked me if I could tell her where she could find a perfectly white Spitz dog with a black ring around its neck.
And I sez in a kind of impatient way, for I didn’t like to be broke up in my high minded, conscientious talk, “I don’t know anything about such a pup.”
Sez she, “I didn’t really suppose you would, but I am so anxious to git one I improve every opportunity to inquire. They are the height of fashion, and, while I am obliged to stay here in the country, waiting the ending of this tedious lawsuit, such a pet would be so much company for me.”
“Company!” sez I, in a deep, impressive voice, “if you want company, where are your own girl and boy, where are the two little immortal souls the Lord gin you to guide and fit for a place with Him bime-by? Them two little white souls you are leavin’ with ignorant, coarse servants to train?”
And I went on real eloquent for as much as four minutes and a half, but she didn’t hear me, for, after I got through with my powerful remarks and wuz kinder waitin’ for a reply, she sez, “I can’t possibly make up my mind which to have.”
And I wuz real encouraged, for I thought I had convinced her and she wuz turnin’ it over in her mind which it wuz best to have, help about her puckers and frizzles or more assured hope about her children’s future, and I sez, “I could tell quick.”
“Well, then, do tell,” sez she, “for I don’t believe I can ever make up my mind alone, there are so many things dependent on it, it is not itself alone that you should take into consideration.”
“That is jest what I have been tryin’ to make you understand,” sez I, “All the mighty consequences hangin’ on it, and I am glad you feel to realize it.”
“Well, then,” sez she, “what color would you have?”