“I haf to git burn’ up,” said Kitty Silver.  “Ev’y las’ caller whut comes here is give her some doggone animal awready.  Mista Sammerses, he give her them two Berjum cats, an’ ole Mister Ridgways whut los’ his wife, he give you’ Aunt Julia them two canaries that tuck an’ hopped out the cage an’ then out the window, las’ week, one day, when you’ grampaw was alone in the room with ’em; an’ Mista George Plummers, he give her that Airydale dog you’ grampaw tuck an’ give to the milkman; an’ Mista Ushers, he give her them two pups whut you’ grampaw tuck an’ skeer off the place soon as he laid eyes on ’em, an’ thishere Mista Clairidge, he give her that ole live allagatuh from Florida whut I foun’ lookin’ at me over the aidge o’ my kitchen sink—­ugly ole thing!—­an’ you’ grampaw tuck an’ give it to the greenhouse man.  Ain’t none nem ge’lmun goin’ try an’ give her no mo’ animals, I bet!  So how anybody goin’ guess who sen’ her thishere Gammire?  Nobody lef’ whut ain’t awready sen’ her one an’ had the gift spile.”

“Yes, there is,” said Florence.

“Who?”

“Noble Dill.”

“That there li’l young Mista Dills?” Kitty Silver cried.  “Listen me!  Thishere dog ’spensive dog.”

“I don’t care; I bet Noble Dill gave him to her.”

Mrs. Silver hooted.  “Go way!  That there young li’l Mista Dills, he ain’ nev’ did show no class, no way nor no time.  He be hunderd year ole b’fo’ you see him in autamobile whut b’long to him.  Look at a way some nem fine big rich men like Mista Clairidge an’ Mista Ridgways take an’ th’ow they money aroun’!  New necktie ev’y time you see ’em; new straw hat right spang the firs’ warm day.  Ring do’ bell.  I say, I say:  ’Walk right in, Mista Ridgways.’  Slip me dollah bill dess like that!  Mista Sammerses an’ Mista Plummers, an’ some nem others, they all show class.  Look Mista Sammerses’ spectickles made turtle back; fancy turtle, too.  I ast Miss Julia; she tell me they fancy turtle.  Gol’ rim spectickles ain’t in it; no ma’am!  Mista Sammerses’ spectickles—­jes’ them rims on his spectickles alone—­I bet they cos’ mo’n all whut thishere young li’l Mista Dills got on him from his toes up an’ his skin out.  I bet Mista Plummers th’ow mo’ money aroun’ dess fer gittin’ his pants press’ than whut Mista Dills afford to spen’ to buy his’n in the firs’ place!  He lose his struggle, ‘cause you’ Aunt Julia, she out fer the big class.  Thishere Gammire, he dog cos’ money; he show class same you’ Aunt Julia.  Ain’t neither one of ’em got to waste they time on nobody whut can’t show no mo’ class than thishere li’l young dish-cumbobbery Mista Dills!”

“I don’t care,” Florence said stubbornly.  “He could of saved up and saved up, and if he saved up long enough he could of got enough money to buy a dog like Gammire, because you can get money enough for anything if you’re willing to save up long enough.  Anyway, I bet he’s the one gave him to her.”

Herbert joined Kitty Silver in laughter.  “Florence is always talkin’ about Noble Dill,” he said.  “She’s sort of crazy, anyway, though.”