But he was inclined to consider Mr.Babbitt's wrath as he had once estimated the speech of a certain Ostable candidate for political office, to be "like a tumbler of plain sody water, mostly fizz and froth and nothin' very substantial or fillin'." He did not tell Grover of the interview in the shop; he told no one, not even Ruth Armstrong.
The--to him, at least--delightful friendship and intimacy between himself and his friends and tenants continued.

He and Charlie Phillips came to know each other better and better.

Charles was now almost as confidential concerning his personal affairs as his sister had been and continued to be.
"It's surprising how I come in here and tell you all my private business, Jed," he said, laughing.

"I don't go about shouting my joys and troubles in everybody's ear like this.

Why do I do it to you ?" Jed stopped a dismal whistle in the middle of a bar.
"W-e-e-ll," he drawled, "I don't know.