Now, if you'd take the advice of a plain man, you'd never try it on.

You're a grave man by natur', and you're so bad at a joke that a feller can't quite tell w'en you're a-doin' of it.

See, now! I do declare I wos as near drivin' you right over the stern o' your own boat as could be, only by good luck I seed the twinkle in your eye in time." "Pull away, my lad," said the captain, in the softest tones of his deep voice, at the same time looking his reprover straight in the face.
There was something in the tone in which that simple command was given, and in the look by which it was accompanied, that effectually quelled John Bumpus in spite of himself.

Violence had no effect on John, because in most cases he was able to meet it with superior violence, and in all cases he was willing to try.

But to be put down in this mild way was perplexing.