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           NowIcouldsaythehellwith‘em,Idon’tcareiftheydon’tlikeit.IdosayIdon’tcareiftheydon’tlikeit,rightenough—butIdon’tsaythehellwith‘em,see?"

           DillandIsaid,"Nosir."

           "Itrytogive‘emareason,yousee.Ithelpsfolksiftheycanlatchontoareason.WhenIcometotown,whichisseldom,ifIweavealittleanddrinkoutofthissack,folkscansayDolphusRaymond’sintheclutchesofwhiskey—that’swhyhewon’tchangehisways.Hecan’thelphimself,that’swhyhelivesthewayhedoes."

           "Thatain’thonest,Mr.Raymond,makingyourselfoutbadder’nyouarealready—"

           "Itain’thonestbutit’smightyhelpfultofolks.Secretly,MissFinch,I’mnotmuchofadrinker,butyouseetheycouldnever,neverunderstandthatIlivelikeIdobecausethat’sthewayIwanttolive."

           IhadafeelingthatIshouldn’tbeherelisteningtothissinfulmanwhohadmixedchildrenanddidn’tcarewhoknewit,buthewasfascinating.Ihadneverencounteredabeingwhodeliberatelyperpetratedfraudagainsthimself.Butwhyhadheentrusteduswithhisdeepestsecret?Iaskedhimwhy.

           "Becauseyou’rechildrenandyoucanunderstandit,"hesaid,"andbecauseIheardthatone—"

           HejerkedhisheadatDill:"Thingshaven’tcaughtupwiththatone’sinstinctyet.Lethimgetalittleolderandhewon’tgetsickandcry.