HUCK said: "Tom, we can slope, if we can find a rope. The window ain't high from the ground."

     "Shucks! what do you want to slope for?"

     "Well, I ain't used to that kind of a crowd. I can't stand it. I ain't going down there, Tom."

     "Oh, bother! It ain't anything. I don't mind it a bit. I'll take care of you."

     Sid appeared.

     "Tom," said he, "auntie has been waiting for you all the afternoon. Mary got your Sunday clothes ready, and everybody's been fretting about you. Say--ain't this grease and clay, on your clothes?"

     "Now, Mr. Siddy, you jist 'tend to your own business. What's all this blowout about, anyway?"

     "It's one of the widow's parties that she's always having. This time it's for the Welshman and his sons, on account of that scrape they helped her out of the other night. And say--I can tell you something, if you want to know."

     "Well, what?"