"Good idee. Wall, I've come ter ax you agin."
"And I tell you that I wouldn't marry you to save my life. I despise you."
"That don't make no diffunce ter me, fur airter we was married erwhile you would git over that. When I axed you befo' an' you 'lowed you wouldn't, I said you would hear from me."
"Yes."
He shook the bottle again, and took another drink. "An' you did hear frum me," he said, after a few moments' silence.
"I don't know that I have."
He laughed with a low and malicious chuckle, looked about him, looked up at the rafters, looked down at the floor, chuckled again, and said:
"Ever'thing new."
"I don't understand you," Eva replied.
"Reckon not. Wimin kain't grab er p'int ez quick ez men ken. I mean that I sot yo' house afire. Hol' on, now; hol' on. Go ter cuttin' up an' it won't be good fur you, an' mo'n that, ef you ever breathe er word uv whut I've said it'll be good-by ter you an' that feller Lucas, too. Green logs mout not burn, but thar's suthin' else that will. Powder'll burn, er—haw, haw! Yes, it'll burn like er flash."