"Well, the' ain't much of it that's a whole lot better—an' I've seen it about all," sez I.
"You seen it about all?" sez she, scornful; "why, you haven't seen the inside of one real house."
I glanced around, but she snaps in, "This ain't a house, this is just shelter from the elements. I'm goin' to see mansions an' palaces, an' I'm goin' to see 'em from the inside too."
"Have you ever read Monte Cristo?" sez I.
"No," sez she.
"Then don't you do it," sez I. "Your head's about as far turned now as your neck'll stand, an' what you ought to do is to learn how to cook an' sew."
She looked at me with her eyes snappin', but in a second her face broke into a grin. "The' ain't a mite o' use in your tryin' that," sez she. "You like me just as I am, an' you don't need to feel it's your duty to work in any that teacher stuff. Gee, but I'm glad you came back It looks as if me an' Dad is in for a long siege of it this time, an' you'll keep me from gettin' lonesome."
"Not the right answer," sez I. "I'm goin' to leave tomorrow."
Her face grew long in a minute, when she see I meant it. "Happy—you don't really mean that, do you?"
"Barbie," I sez, "I had to leave before, or take sides. Well, you an' the boss are warrin' again; I can't fight you, an' I won't side again him. You don't leave me any choice—I just have to go away again."