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           IlookedupatAuntAlexandra."Ihaven’tgothiminthere,Aunty,Iain’tholdin’him."

           "Yessheis,"shoutedFrancis,"shewon’tletmeout!"

           "Haveyouallbeenfussing?"

           "JeanLouisegotmadatme,Grandma,"calledFrancis.

           "Francis,comeoutofthere!JeanLouise,ifIhearanotherwordoutofyouI’lltellyourfather.DidIhearyousayhellawhileago?"

           "Nome."

           "IthoughtIdid.I’dbetternothearitagain."

           AuntAlexandrawasaback-porchlistener.ThemomentshewasoutofsightFranciscameoutheadupandgrinning."Don’tyoufoolwithme,"hesaid.

           Hejumpedintotheyardandkepthisdistance,kickingtuftsofgrass,turningaroundoccasionallytosmileatme.Jemappearedontheporch,lookedatus,andwentaway.Francisclimbedthemimosatree,camedown,puthishandsinhispocketsandstrolledaroundtheyard."Hah!"hesaid.Iaskedhimwhohethoughthewas,UncleJack?FrancissaidhereckonedIgottold,formetojustsitthereandleavehimalone.

           "Iain’tbotherin’you,"Isaid.

           Francislookedatmecarefully,concludedthatIhadbeensufficientlysubdued,andcroonedsoftly,"Nigger-lover..."

           Thistime,Isplitmyknuckletotheboneonhisfrontteeth.Myleftimpaired,Isailedinwithmyright,butnotforlong.UncleJackpinnedmyarmstomysidesandsaid,"Standstill!"