Poor little critter! Where is she now; at the house--at Marcellus's ?" "Yes; that is, I suppose she is." "Do you--do you cal'late we could see her if we went there now ?" "Yes, I am sure you could." Zoeth rose.
"Come on, Shadrach," he said, "let's go." The Captain stared at him.
"Go ?" he repeated.

"Where?
Home, do you mean ?" "No, not yet.

I mean over to Marcellus's to see that little girl." "Zoeth Hamilton! Do you mean to tell me--What do you want to see her for?
Do you want to make it harder for her and for us and for all hands?
What good is seein' her goin' to do?
Ain't it twice as easy to say no now and be done with it ?" "I suppose likely 'twould be, but it wouldn't be right Marcellus asked us to do this thing for him and--" "Jumpin' Judas! ASKED us! Do you mean to say you're thinkin' of doin' what he asked?
Are you loony, too?
Are you--" "Shh, Shadrach! He asked us, as a last favor, to take charge of his girl.

I feel as you do that we can't do it, 'tain't sensible nor possible for us to do it, but--" "There ain't any buts." "But the very least we can do is go and see her and talk to her." "What for?
So we'll feel meaner and more sneaky when we HAVE to say no?
I shan't go to see her." "All right.

Then I shall.