“The very words I was a-sayin’ no longer ago th’n this minute to Sister Utterback, ’n’ she’ll tell you so herself. Sh-she, look at that-air rag ladder, sh-she; ’n’ s’I, yes, look at it, s’I⁠—what could he a-wanted of it, s’I. Sh-she, Sister Hotchkiss, sh-she⁠—”

“But how in the nation’d they ever git that grindstone in there, any way? ’n’ who dug that-air hole ? ’n’ who⁠—”