“Peet Spinbutton!” said the old woman, “well, I want to know!”
“Darn his eyes!” exclaimed Josh.
“Peet Spinbutton!” repeated Mrs. Beanpole; “what, the ensign of the Dogtown Blues? that great lummokin’ feller!”
“Darn him to darnation!” exclaimed Josh, catching hold of the toast-iron as if he meant to lay about him, “to cut in afore me in that ere sort o’ way!”
Mrs. Beanpole caught Josh by the arm, exclaiming:
“Josh! Joshy! Joshy! what are you about? Peet Spinbutton? I don’t believe it.”
“What!” said Josh, “didn’t I hear with my own ears, last night that ever was, Zeb Shute tell me all about it?”
“Zeb Shute! well, what did Zeb Shute say?”
“Why, says he to me:
“ ‘Josh,’ says he, ‘what do you think?’ says he.