"Aw, cut it, can't you, ma? I--ma, quit scarin' a fellow. Quit battin' your eyes like that. Tryin' to flirt with me, ain't you, ma? Quit it, now! Lemme get you some of that black medicine--you're gettin' one of your spells. Lemme run down-stairs and send Lizzie Marks for old man Gibbs?" "No, no, Jimmie--don't leave me! Hold me, my boy, so I can feel your face. Don't cry, Jimmie; there ain't nothin' to cry about." "Cut the comedy, ma! I ain't cryin'; I'm sweatin'." "Jimmie, are--you--there? I feel so--so heavy." "Sure I am, ma--right here, holding you in my arms. Feel! There's the scar where old Gibbs sewed my face the time I got hit with a bat--feel, ma--see, it's me." "What's that, Jimmie, on the foot of the bed movin'?" "See, ma--that's your flowered glad-rag. You're go-goin' to put it on when Essie and her gen'l'man friend come in. It ain't movin'; I shoved it." "Don't muss it, Jimmie." "No. See, I smoothed out its tail--it's a sash for you, ma." "Jimmie, you won't leave me? It gets so dark and--the mice--" "You couldn't pry me away with a crowbar, ma! I'll hold you till you yell leggo. Lemme go for old Gibbs, ma; you're breathing heavy as a pump." "No, no, Jimmie; don't leave me." "Sure I won't; but you're all twitchin' and jumpin', ma. Just leave me run down and send Lizzie Marks for him." "No, no, Jimmie; I'm all right." "Sure, ma? You--you're actin' up so funny." "It ain't nothin'--only I'm an old woman, Jimmie. All of a sudden I got old and broke. It ain't the same in the department, Jimmie, with Essie gone from the notions across the aisle. Always when we were overstocked in the corsets she--she--Essie--" "Aw, ma, you ain't talkin' straight. Lemme have old man Gibbs." "I'm talking straight, Jimmie. Ain't I layin' right here in your arms and ain't my hair caught round one of your brass buttons?--quit pullin', Jimmie! Essie's hair is so bright, Jimmie. I can see it shinin' in the dark when she's sleepin'." "Some hair the kid's got! Remember the night you took me and her to--" "'Sh-h-h-h! Ain't that them coming? Ain't it, Jimmie? I ain't equal to gettin' up, Jimmie. Bring 'em in here and tell--" "Like fun it's them! Whatta you bet right now they're holding down a table for two at the Palais du Danse? Swell joint!" "Oh, Gawd, Jimmie!" "I was kiddin', ma--only kiddin'. Open your eyes, ma. Gwan! Be a sport and open up! Remember, ma, when I was a kid, how I used to make you laff and laff, makin' a noise like a banjo--plunka-plunk-plunk-plunk-plunka-plunk?" "Yes, Jimmie." "I knew I'd get a laff out of you--plunka-plunk-plunka-plunk!" "Yes, Jimmie, my boy! Go on! I like to lay here and remember back. Essie was always grabbin' your spoon--I used to slap her little hands and--" "Ma, open your eyes! Don't go off in one of 'em again." "See, they're open, Jimmie! I can see your gold buttons shinin' and shinin'--I ain't sleepin'; I'm only waitin'."