I was ungrateful and stubborn and all sorts of things.

And I, bein' a Hammond, with some of the Hammond balkiness in me, I set my foot down as hard as his.

And we had it until--until--well, until I saw him stagger and tremble so that I actually got scared and feared he was goin' to keel over where he stood.
"'Why can't you ?' he kept sayin'.

'But WHY can't you?
Ain't she a girl anyone would be proud to have for a wife ?' 'Course there was no answer to that but yes.

Then back he comes again with 'Then why can't you ?' At last, bein' frightened, as I said, that he might have another shock or somethin', I said I'd think it over and come away and left him.