As for the competent part--well," with a chuckle, "that child's pretty competent herself.
I have a notion that, take it five or six years from now, it'll be her that'll be bringin' us up in the way we should go.

I feel a good deal as if I was signin' on for a long voyage with the chances that I'd finish mate instead of skipper." "Say, Judge," he added, just before leaving for home, "there's one thing more I'd like to say.

'Most everybody thinks Marcellus left his stepdaughter a consider'ble sight of money, don't they ?" "Why, yes; I suppose they do." "All right, let 'em think so.

'Twill give 'em somethin' to talk about.
They'll be guessin' how rich the child is instead of markin' off in the almanac the days afore Zoeth and me head for the poorhouse." "Humph! I see.

You don't care to have it known that you and your partner are adopting and supporting her purely from motives of kindness and generosity." "Pooh! pooh! No generosity about it.