"I know as much about Angie's tribe as you do, I cal'late.

Ain't we a little mite off the course?
Seems to me we was talkin' about Heman's letter." "Is that so?
I judged from what you said we wa'n't goin' to talk about it.

Aw, don't be so mean, Ase! Showin' off your importance like a young one! What did Heman say about the appropriation?
Is he goin' to get it ?" Mr.Tidditt paused before replying.

Then, bending over, he whispered in his chum's ear: "He never said one word about the appropriation, Bailey; not one word.
He wanted to know if we'd got this year's taxes on the Whittaker place.
And, if we hadn't, what was we goin' to do about it?
Bailey, between you and me and the mizzenmast, Heman Atkins wants to get ahold of that place the worst way." "He does?
He DOES?
For the land sakes, ain't he got property enough already?
Ain't a--a palace like that enough for one man, without wantin' to buy a rattletrap like THAT ?" The first "that" was emphasized by a brandished but reverent left hand; the second by a derisively pointing right.

The two friends had reached the crest of the long slope leading up from the townhall.