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tallow-drip off of his candle and thinking. Then he turns off slow and dreamy

towards the stairs, saying: ssssssssss

"Well, for the life of me I can't remember when I done it. I could show

her now that I warn't to blame on account of the rats. But never mind -- let it

go. I reckon it wouldn't do no good." ssssssssss

And so he went on a mumbling up stairs, and then we left. He was a mighty

nice old man. And always is. ssssssssss

Tom was a good deal bothered about what to do for a spoon, but he said we'd

got to have it; so he took a think. When he had ciphered it out, he told me how

we was to do; then we went and waited around the spoon-basket till we see

Aunt Sally coming, and then Tom went to counting the spoons and laying them

out to one side, and I slid one of them up my sleeve, and Tom says:

"Why, Aunt Sally, there ain't but nine spoons, yet."

She says: ssssssssss

"Go 'long to your play, and don't bother me. I know better, I counted 'm

myself." ssssssssss

"Well, I've counted them twice, Aunty, and I can't make but nine."

She looked out of all patience, but of course she come to count -- anybody

would.

"I declare to gracious ther' ain't but nine!" she says. "Why, what in the

world -- plague take the things, I'll count 'm again."

So I slipped back the one I had, and when she got done counting, she says:

"Hang the troublesome rubbage, ther's ten, now!" and she looked huffy and

bothered both. But Tom says: ssssssssss

"Why, Aunty, I don't think there's ten."

"You numskull, didn't you see me count 'm?"

"I know, but -- --"

"Well, I'll count 'm again."

So I smouched one, and they come out nine same as the other time. Well,

she was in a tearing way -- just a trembling all over, she was so mad. But she

counted and counted, till she got that addled she'd start to count-in the basket

for a spoon, sometimes; and so, three times they come out right, and three times

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