"Well, hadn't you?" sez I.
"Yes, sometime, I suppose—but hang it, it's mighty hard to answer some of her questions, or to give reasons why I can't answer 'em."
"Have you asked her what's on her mind this time?" sez I.
He fidgeted around a while, an' then he sez, "Yes, I asked her."
"What did she say?" sez I.
"She looked me plumb in the eyes, an' said, 'Do you want me to ask you what I want to find out?'"
"What did you say?" sez I.
"Why, I said, 'Yes, Barbara, if it is something you ought to know.'"
"Well?" I sez, after waitin' a bit.
"Why, she flared up," sez Jabez, "an' went on sarcastic about it bein' strange to her why girls was so much different from other folks, an' there bein' so many things 'at they wasn't fit to know; an' finally she said to me point blank, 'Do you want me to ask you what I want to know, an' if I do ask you will you answer?'"