"I should like to go with you; but I have business, and I can't put it off."
"I'll wait, Tilly, if you wish," David said.
"I don't wish it at all, David. I would rather not wait."
"O it's your business too, is it!" said Norton. "And Pink would rather not wait. Very good."
"It is important business, really, Norton," Matilda pleaded; "it is not for myself."
"That's just what proves it of no importance," said Norton. "What is it?"
"David and I want to see Mrs. Staples to find out something we want to know."
"Might as well ask the Sphinx," said Norton discontentedly.
"I would just as lief tell you what, Norton; only it is something you don't care about, and it would give you no pleasure."
"May as well let 'em go, Norton," remarked Judy, eating strawberries at a tremendous rate; it was not strawberry time by any means, but these came from the South. "May as well let 'em go; there's a pair of 'em; and they'll run, I guess, till they run their heads against something or other and pull up so; or till they get swamped. I hope they'll get swamped."