“I used to think so, little boy.”
“I arst Miss Howlan’ once. But she got mad and tol’ me to get the hell out and stop askin’ foolish questions, or she’d slap my mouth——”
“Who’s Miss Howland?”
“She runs the dump we live at. She’s a quince and can’t get married. Say, you’re rich, aincher? Is that a real bird on your hat?”
“And does this Miss Howland swear so before you children?”
“Huh, hell ain’t swearin’. I know lots o’ words worse’n hell. So’s Miss Howland. Gee, you oughta hear her rip when she gets mad. She says goddam an’——”
“Stop, boy, stop! I merely wish to know about that little girl. What’s the name of the Orphanage where you live?”
“The Corpses is Christened—or sumpin’ sounds like it.”
“You mean Corpus-Christi?”
“Uh-huh! Guess so!”