but sometimes it's not a robust diet,--Beriah. But don't look that way,

dear--don't mind what I say. I don't mean to fret, I don't mean to

worry; and I don't, once a month, do I, dear? But when I get a little

low and feel bad, I get a bit troubled and worrisome, but it don't mean

anything in the world. It passes right away. I know you're doing all

you can, and I don't want to seem repining and ungrateful--for I'm not,

Beriah--you know I'm not, don't you?"

Lord bless you, child, I know you are the very best little woman that

ever lived--that ever lived on the whole face of the Earth! And I know

that I would be a dog not to work for you and think for you and scheme

for you with all my might. And I'll bring things all right yet, honey

--cheer up and don't you fear. The railroad----"

"Oh, I had forgotten the railroad, dear, but when a body gets blue, a

body forgets everything. Yes, the railroad--tell me about the railroad."

"Aha, my girl, don't you see? Things ain't so dark, are they? Now I

didn't forget the railroad. Now just think for a moment--just figure up

a little on the future dead moral certainties. For instance, call this

waiter St. Louis.

"And we'll lay this fork (representing the railroad) from St. Louis to

this potato, which is Slouchburg:

"Then with this carving knife we'll continue the railroad from Slouchburg

280

The Gilded Age