is¡¡real¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡very¡¡quiet¡¡there¡¡to¡night£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡city¡¡and¡¡its¡¡continuous¡¡hum¡¡of¡¡war¡¡and¡¡terror¡¡seemingly¡¡a¡¡million¡¡miles¡¡away¡£
Shall¡¡we¡¡meet¡¡at¡¡last£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡answer¡¡rests¡¡entirely¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡believe¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡anxiously¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡know£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡you¡¡decide¡¡to¡¡give¡¡me¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡denounce¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡you¡¡in¡¡person¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡a¡¡happy¡¡man¡¡will¡¡say¡¡good¡by¡¡to¡¡this¡¡garden¡¡and¡¡these¡¡dim¡¡dusty¡¡rooms¡¡and¡¡follow¡¡you¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ends¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡¡¡¡¡¡aye£»¡¡to¡¡Texas¡¡itself£¡
Captain¡¡Fraser¡Freer¡¡is¡¡coming¡¡down¡¡the¡¡stairs¡£¡¡¡¡Is¡¡this¡¡good¡by¡¡forever£»¡¡my¡¡lady£¿¡¡¡¡With¡¡all¡¡my¡¡soul£»¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡not¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡YOUR¡¡CONTRITE¡¡STRAWBERRY¡¡MAN¡£
CHAPTER¡¡IX
Words¡¡are¡¡futile¡¡things¡¡with¡¡which¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡a¡¡description¡¡of¡¡the¡¡feelings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Canton¡¡as¡¡she¡¡read¡¡this£»¡¡the¡¡last¡¡letter¡¡of¡¡seven¡¡written¡¡to¡¡her¡¡through¡¡the¡¡medium¡¡of¡¡her¡¡maid£»¡¡Sadie¡¡Haight¡£¡¡Turning¡¡the¡¡pages¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dictionary¡¡casually£»¡¡one¡¡might¡¡enlist¡¡a¡¡few¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡example£»¡¡amazement£»¡¡anger£»¡¡unbelief£»¡¡wonder¡£¡¡¡¡Perhaps£»¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡a£»¡¡even¡¡amusement¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡may¡¡leave¡¡her¡¡with¡¡the¡¡solution¡¡to¡¡the¡¡puzzle¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hand£»¡¡the¡¡Saronia¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡day¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡weirdly¡¡mixed¡¡company¡¡of¡¡emotions¡¡struggling¡¡in¡¡her¡¡soul¡£
And¡¡leaving¡¡her¡¡thus£»¡¡let¡¡us¡¡go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Adelphi¡¡Terrace¡¡and¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man¡¡exceedingly¡¡worried¡£
Once¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡his¡¡letter¡¡was¡¡delivered£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Geoffrey¡¡West¡¡took¡¡his¡¡place¡¡most¡¡humbly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡anxious¡¡seat¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡he¡¡writhed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡long¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡Wednesday¡¡morning¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡to¡¡prolong¡¡this¡¡painful¡¡picture£»¡¡let¡¡us¡¡hasten¡¡to¡¡add¡¡that¡¡at¡¡three¡¡o'clock¡¡that¡¡same¡¡afternoon¡¡came¡¡a¡¡telegram¡¡that¡¡was¡¡to¡¡end¡¡suspense¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡tore¡¡it¡¡open¡¡and¡¡read£º
STRAWBERRY¡¡MAN£º¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡never£»¡¡never¡¡forgive£»¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡we¡¡are¡¡sailing¡¡tomorrow¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Saronia¡£¡¡¡¡Were¡¡you¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡going¡¡home¡¡soon£¿¡¡MARIAN¡¡A¡£¡¡¡¡LARNED¡£
Thus¡¡it¡¡happened¡¡that£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡later£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡crowd¡¡of¡¡troubled¡¡Americans¡¡in¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡steamship¡¡booking¡¡office¡¡there¡¡was¡¡added¡¡a¡¡wild¡eyed¡¡young¡¡man¡¡who¡¡further¡¡upset¡¡all¡¡who¡¡saw¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡weary¡¡clerks¡¡he¡¡proclaimed¡¡in¡¡fiery¡¡tones¡¡that¡¡he¡¡must¡¡sail¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Saronia¡£¡¡There¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡no¡¡way¡¡of¡¡appeasing¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡offer¡¡¡¡of¡¡a¡¡private¡¡liner¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡interested¡¡him¡£
He¡¡raved¡¡and¡¡tore¡¡his¡¡hair¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡ranted¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡to¡¡no¡¡avail¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was£»¡¡in¡¡plain¡¡American£»¡¡¡¨nothing¡¡doing£¡¡¨
Damp¡¡but¡¡determined£»¡¡he¡¡sought¡¡among¡¡the¡¡crowd¡¡for¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡bookings¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Saronia¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡find£»¡¡at¡¡first£»¡¡no¡¡one¡¡so¡¡lucky£»¡¡but¡¡finally¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡across¡¡Tommy¡¡Gray¡£¡¡¡¡Gray£»¡¡an¡¡old¡¡friend£»¡¡admitted¡¡when¡¡pressed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a¡¡passage¡¡on¡¡that¡¡most¡¡desirable¡¡boat¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡offer¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡horses¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡king's¡¡gold¡¡left¡¡him¡¡unmoved¡£¡¡¡¡Much£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡liked¡¡to¡¡oblige£»¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡were¡¡determined¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡would¡¡sail¡£
It¡¡was¡¡then¡¡that¡¡Geoffrey¡¡West¡¡made¡¡a¡¡compact¡¡with¡¡his¡¡friend¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡secured¡¡from¡¡him¡¡the¡¡necessary¡¡steamer¡¡labels¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡arranged¡¡that¡¡his¡¡baggage¡¡was¡¡to¡¡go¡¡aboard¡¡the¡¡Saronia¡¡as¡¡the¡¡property¡¡of¡¡Gray¡£
¡¨But£»¡¨¡¡protested¡¡Gray£»¡¡¡¨even¡¡suppose¡¡you¡¡do¡¡put¡¡this¡¡through£»¡¡suppose¡¡you¡¡do¡¡manage¡¡to¡¡sail¡¡without¡¡a¡¡ticket¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡will¡¡you¡¡sleep£¿¡¡¡¡In¡¡chains¡¡somewhere¡¡below£»¡¡I¡¡fancy¡£¡¨
¡¨No¡¡matter£¡¡¨¡¡bubbled¡¡West¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡sleep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dining¡¡saloon£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡lifeboat£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡lee¡¡scuppers¡¡¡¡¡whatever¡¡they¡¡are¡£¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡sleep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡without¡¡any¡¡visible¡¡support£¡¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡sleep¡¡anywhere¡¡¡¡¡nowhere¡¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡I'll¡¡sail£¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡as¡¡for¡¡irons¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡don't¡¡make¡¡'em¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡me¡£¡¨
At¡¡five¡¡o'clock¡¡on¡¡Thursday¡¡afternoon¡¡the¡¡Saronia¡¡slipped¡¡smoothly¡¡away¡¡from¡¡a¡¡Liverpool¡¡dock¡£¡¡¡¡Twenty¡five¡¡hundred¡¡Americans¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡twice¡¡the¡¡number¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡could¡¡comfortably¡¡carry¡¡¡¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡her¡¡decks¡¡and¡¡cheered¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡those¡¡in¡¡that¡¡crowd¡¡who¡¡had¡¡millions¡¡of¡¡money¡¡were¡¡booked¡¡for¡¡the¡¡steerage¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡destined¡¡to¡¡experience¡¡during¡¡that¡¡crossing¡¡hunger£»¡¡annoyance£»¡¡discomfort¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡to¡¡be¡¡stepped¡¡on£»¡¡sat¡¡on£»¡¡crowded¡¡and¡¡jostled¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡suspected¡¡as¡¡much¡¡when¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡left¡¡the¡¡dock¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡they¡¡cheered£¡
Gayest¡¡among¡¡them¡¡was¡¡Geoffrey¡¡West£»¡¡triumphant¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡confusion¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡safely¡¡aboard£»¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡was¡¡on¡¡its¡¡way£¡¡¡¡¡Little¡¡did¡¡it¡¡trouble¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he¡¡went¡¡as¡¡a¡¡stowaway£»¡¡since¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡ticket£»¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡an¡¡overwhelming¡¡determination¡¡to¡¡be¡¡on¡¡the¡¡good¡¡ship¡¡Saronia¡£
That¡¡night¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Saronia¡¡stole¡¡along¡¡with¡¡all¡¡deck¡¡lights¡¡out¡¡and¡¡every¡¡porthole¡¡curtained£»¡¡West¡¡saw¡¡on¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡deck¡¡the¡¡slight¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡who¡¡meant¡¡much¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡standing¡¡staring¡¡out¡¡over¡¡the¡¡black¡¡waters£»¡¡and£»¡¡with¡¡wildly¡¡beating¡¡heart£»¡¡he¡¡approached¡¡her£»¡¡not¡¡knowing¡¡what¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡but¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡a¡¡start¡¡must¡¡be¡¡made¡¡somehow¡£
¡¨Please¡¡pardon¡¡me¡¡for¡¡addressing¡¡¡¡he¡¡began¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
She¡¡turned£»¡¡startled£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡smiled¡¡an¡¡odd¡¡little¡¡smile£»¡¡which¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡£
¡¨I¡¡beg¡¡your¡¡pardon£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡haven't¡¡met¡¡you£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡recall¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨I¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨That's¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡arranged¡¡to¡morrow¡£¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Tommy¡¡Gray¡¡says¡¡you¡¡crossed¡¡with¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨Mere¡¡steamer¡¡acquaintances£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡replied¡¡coldly¡£
¡¨Of¡¡course£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Gray¡¡is¡¡a¡¡darling¡¡¡¡¡she'll¡¡fix¡¡that¡¡all¡¡right¡£¡¡I¡¡just¡¡want¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡before¡¡to¡morrow¡¡comes¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨Wouldn't¡¡it¡¡be¡¡better¡¡to¡¡wait£¿¡¨
¡¨I¡¡can't£¡¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡on¡¡this¡¡ship¡¡without¡¡a¡¡ticket¡£¡¡¡¡I've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡go¡¡down¡¡in¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡purser¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡Maybe¡¡he'll¡¡throw¡¡me¡¡overboard£»¡¡maybe¡¡he'll¡¡lock¡¡me¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡they¡¡do¡¡with¡¡people¡¡like¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Maybe¡¡they'll¡¡make¡¡a¡¡stoker¡¡of¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡to¡¡stoke£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡seeing¡¡you¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡that's¡¡why¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡say¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡sorry¡¡I¡¡have¡¡such¡¡a¡¡keen¡¡imagination¡£¡¡It¡¡carried¡¡me¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡really¡¡it¡¡did£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡deceive¡¡you¡¡with¡¡those¡¡letters£»¡¡but£»¡¡once¡¡I¡¡got¡¡started¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡know£»¡¡don't¡¡you£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡love¡¡you¡¡with¡¡all¡¡my¡¡heart£¿¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡you¡¡came¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Canton¡¡that¡¡morning¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨Really¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨West¡¡¡¡¡Geoffrey¡¡West¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡adore¡¡you£¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡can¡¡I¡¡do¡¡to¡¡prove¡¡it£¿¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡prove¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡this¡¡ship¡¡docks¡¡in¡¡the¡¡North¡¡River¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡I'd¡¡better¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡your¡¡father£»¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Agony¡¡Column¡¡and¡¡those¡¡seven¡¡letters¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨You'd¡¡better¡¡not£¡¡¡¡¡He's¡¡in¡¡a¡¡terribly¡¡bad¡¡humor¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡dinner¡¡was¡¡awful£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡steward¡¡said¡¡we'd¡¡be¡¡looking¡¡back¡¡to¡¡it¡¡and¡¡calling¡¡it¡¡a¡¡banquet¡¡before¡¡the¡¡voyage¡¡ends¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡too£»¡¡poor¡¡dad¡¡says¡¡he¡¡simply¡¡can¡¡not¡¡sleep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stateroom¡¡they've¡¡given¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨All¡¡the¡¡better£¡¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡see¡¡him¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡stands¡¡for¡¡me¡¡now¡¡he'll¡¡stand¡¡for¡¡me¡¡any¡¡time£¡¡¡¡¡And£»¡¡before¡¡I¡¡go¡¡down¡¡and¡¡beard¡¡a¡¡harsh¡looking¡¡purser¡¡in¡¡his¡¡den£»¡¡won't¡¡you¡¡believe¡¡me¡¡when¡¡I¡¡say¡¡I'm¡¡deeply¡¡in¡¡love¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨In¡¡love¡¡with¡¡mystery¡¡and¡¡romance£¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡love¡¡with¡¡your¡¡own¡¡remarkable¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡invention£¡¡¡¡¡Really£»¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡take¡¡you¡¡seriously¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨Before¡¡this¡¡voyage¡¡is¡¡ended¡¡you'll¡¡have¡¡to¡£¡¡¡¡I'll¡¡prove¡¡to¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I¡¡care¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡purser¡¡lets¡¡me¡¡go¡¡free¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨You¡¡have¡¡much¡¡to¡¡prove£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨To¡morrow¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Tommy¡¡Gray¡¡introduces¡¡us¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡may¡¡accept¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡a¡¡builder¡¡of¡¡plots¡£¡¡I¡¡happen¡¡to¡¡know¡¡you¡¡are¡¡good¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It's¡¡too¡¡silly£¡¡¡¡¡Better¡¡go¡¡and¡¡have¡¡it¡¡out¡¡with¡¡that¡¡purser¡£¡¨
Reluctantly¡¡he¡¡went¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡five¡¡minutes¡¡he¡¡was¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡was¡¡still¡¡standing¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rail¡£
¡¨It's¡¡all¡¡right£¡¡¨¡¡West¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡something¡¡original£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡were¡¡eleven¡¡other¡¡people¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡fix¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡them¡¡is¡¡a¡¡billionaire¡¡from¡¡Wall¡¡Street¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡purser¡¡collected¡¡some¡¡money¡¡from¡¡us¡¡and¡¡told¡¡us¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡on¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡we¡¡could¡¡find¡¡room¡£¡¨
¡¨I'm¡¡sorry£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡rather¡¡fancied¡¡you¡¡in¡¡the¡¡role¡¡of¡¡stoker¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡She¡¡glanced¡¡about¡¡her¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡deck¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Isn't¡¡this¡¡exciting£¿¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡sure¡¡this¡¡voyage¡¡is¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡mystery¡¡and¡¡romance¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡know¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡full¡¡of¡¡romance£»¡¨¡¡West¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡the¡¡mystery¡¡will¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡I¡¡convince¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨Hush£¡¡¨¡¡broke¡¡in¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Here¡¡comes¡¡father£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡very¡¡happy¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡to¡morrow¡£¡¡¡¡Poor¡¡dad£¡¡¡¡¡he's¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡a¡¡place¡¡to¡¡sleep¡£¡¨
Five¡¡days¡¡later¡¡poor¡¡dad£»¡¡having¡¡slept¡¡each¡¡night¡¡on¡¡deck¡¡in¡¡his¡¡clothes¡¡while¡¡¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡plowed¡¡through¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡drizzle£»¡¡and¡¡having¡¡starved¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sadly¡¡depleted¡¡dining¡¡saloon£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sight¡¡to¡¡move¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡a¡¡political¡¡opponent¡£¡¡¡¡Immediately¡¡after¡¡a¡¡dinner¡¡that¡¡had¡¡scarcely¡¡satisfied¡¡a¡¡healthy¡¡Texas¡¡appetite¡¡he¡¡lounged¡¡gloomily¡¡in¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡chair¡¡which¡¡was¡¡now¡¡his¡¡stateroom¡£¡¡¡¡Jauntily¡¡Geoffrey¡¡West¡¡came¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side¡£
¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Larned£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I've¡¡got¡¡something¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¨
And£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡kindly¡¡smile£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡from¡¡his¡¡pocket¡¡and¡¡handed¡¡over¡¡a¡¡large£»¡¡warm¡¡baked¡¡potato¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Texan¡¡eagerly¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡gift¡£
¡¨Where'd¡¡you¡¡get¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡demanded£»¡¡breaking¡¡open¡¡his¡¡treasure¡£
¡¨That's¡¡a¡¡secret£»¡¨¡¡West¡¡answered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡I¡¡can¡¡get¡¡as¡¡many¡¡as¡¡I¡¡want¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Larned£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡say¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡will¡¡not¡¡go¡¡hungry¡¡¡¡any¡¡longer¡£¡¡And¡¡there's¡¡something¡¡else¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡of¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡aiming¡¡to¡¡marry¡¡your¡¡daughter¡£¡¨
Deep¡¡in¡¡his¡¡potato¡¡the¡¡Congressman¡¡spoke£º
¡¨What¡¡does¡¡she¡¡say¡¡about¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¨Oh£»¡¡she¡¡says¡¡there¡¡isn't¡¡a¡¡chance¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨Then¡¡look¡¡out£»¡¡my¡¡boy£¡¡¡¡¡She's¡¡made¡¡up¡¡her¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡have¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¨I'm¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡you¡¡say¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡really¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡who¡¡I¡¡am¡£¡¡¡¡Also£»¡¡I¡¡want¡¡you¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that£»¡¡before¡¡your¡¡daughter¡¡and¡¡I¡¡met£»¡¡I¡¡wrote¡¡her¡¡seven¡¡letters¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
¡¨One¡¡minute£»¡¨¡¡broke¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Texan¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Before¡¡you¡¡go¡¡into¡¡all¡¡that£»¡¡won't¡¡you¡¡be¡¡a¡¡good¡¡fellow¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡where¡¡you¡¡got¡¡this¡¡potato£¿¡¨
West¡¡nodded¡£
¡¨Sure£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡and