"Never gets un-mad. Always stays so. Is a regular joke, you know. Going to visit him?"
"I'm goin' to be his housekeeper," said 'Tilda Jane, with dignity.
The lad cast a rapid and amused glance over her small resolved figure, then taking his handkerchief from his pocket, turned his face to the window, and coughed vigorously.
"I can fight, too," she added, after a pause, "but—" slowly, "I sha'n't fight him."
The lad did not turn around except to throw her one gleam from the corner of a laughing eye, until she ejaculated uneasily, "There comes the conductor—are you a-goin' to lend me some money?"
His face reappeared—quite sober now. "Well, young lady, I am not a capitalist, but I think I can raise you a loan. How much do you want—that is, where did you come on?"
"I come on at Nicatoos, an' I've another dog in the baggage-car."
"Travelling with two dogs," he murmured, "and short of funds. You have courage!"
"I like some animiles better'n some people," observed 'Tilda Jane, sententiously.