affairs. I haven't walked behind you from meeting and seen her head a bobbin' like a bluebird's and her eyes a blazin' and all that, for nothing. Like as not, Betsey Malcolm's more than half your trouble in that quarter."

"But she said--"

"It doesn't matter three quarters of a rotten rye-straw what she said, my inexperienced friend. She doesn't care what she says, so long as it's far enough away from the truth to serve her turn. And she's told patent double-back-action lies that worked both ways. What do you allow Jule Anderson thought when she heard tell of your courting Betsey, as Betsey told it, with all her nods and little crowing? Now looky here, Gus, I'm your friend, as the Irishman said to the bar that hugged him, and I want to say about all that air that Betsey told you, spit on the slate and wipe that all off. There's lie in her soap and a right smart chance of soft-soap in her lie, I allow."

These rough words of Jonas brought a strange intelligence into the mind of August. He saw so many things in a moment that had lain under his eyes unnoticed.

"There is much rough wisdom in your speech, Jonas," said Andrew.

"That's a fact. You and me used to go to school to old Benefield together when I was little and you were grown up. You always beat everybody all holler in books and spelling-matches, Andy. But I allow I cut my eye-teeth about as early as some of you that's got more learning under your scalp. Now, I say to our young friend and fellow-citizen, don't go away till you've spoken a consoling word to a girl that'll stick to you till the hour and article of death, and then remains yours truly forever, amen."

"How do you know that, Jonas?" said August, smiling in spite of himself.

"How do I know it? Why, by the testimony of an uncorrupted and disinterested witness, gentlemen of the jury, if the honorable court pleases. What did that Jule Anderson do, poor thing, but spend some time making a most unseasonable visit to Cynthy Ann last night? And I allow if there's an old gal in this sublunary sphere as tells the truth in a bee-line and no nonsense, it's that there same, individual, identical Cynthy Ann. She's most afraid to drink cold water or breathe fresh air for fear she'll commit an unpardonable sin. And that persecuted young pigeon that thought herself forsaken, just skeeted into Cynthy Ann's boudoir before daybreak this morning and told her all her sorrows, and how your letter and your going with that Betsey 

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