I don't try to be big and tall! I grew so.

And I don't try to talk gruff." "Oh yes! you do, Jack," I said.
"Well, p'r'aps I do; but I don't try to talk thin, like I do sometimes." "I couldn't help laughing, Jack," I said, holding out my hand.

"I did not mean to ridicule you." He gave my hand quite an angry slap and turned away, but only to come back directly.
"Here, I say; I beg your pardon, Joe Carstairs," he said, holding out his hand, which I shook heartily.

"I wish I hadn't got such a beastly bad temper.

I do try not to show it, but it makes me wild when people laugh at me." "Well, I won't laugh at you any more, Jack," I said earnestly.
"No, don't; there's a good chap," he said, with the tears in his eyes.
"It's partly why I came away from home, you know.