has got to do it, now the way she is with that Jem Richards. He
certainly now don't never want to have her but Melanctha she ain't got
no right kind of spirit. No Sam I don't never like the way any more
Melanctha is acting to him, and then Sam, she ain't never real right
honest, the way she always should do it. She certainly just don't kind
of never Sam tell right what way she is doing with it. I don't never
like to say nothing Sam no more to her about the way she always has
to be acting. She always say, yes all right Rose, I do the way you say
it, and then Sam she don't never noways do it. She certainly is right
sweet and good, Sam, is Melanctha, nobody ever can hear me say she
ain't always ready to do things for everybody anyway she ever can see
to do it, only Sam some ways she never does act real right ever, and
some ways, Sam, she ain't ever real honest with it. And Sam sometimes
I hear awful kind of things she been doing, some girls know about her
how she does it, and sometimes they tell me what kind of ways she
has to do it, and Sam it certainly do seem to me like more and more I
certainly am awful afraid Melanctha never will come to any good.
And then Sam, sometimes, you hear it, she always talk like she kill
herself all the time she is so blue, and Sam that certainly never is
no kind of way any decent girl ever had ought to do. You see Sam, how
I am right like I always is when I knows it. You just be careful, Sam,
now you hear me, you be careful Sam sure, I tell you, Melanctha more
and more I see her I certainly do feel Melanctha no way is really
honest. You be careful, Sam now, like I tell you, for I knows it, now
you hear to me, Sam, what I tell you, for I certainly always is right,
Sam, when I knows it."

At first Sam tried a little to defend Melanctha, and Sam always was
good and gentle to her, and Sam liked the ways Melanctha had to be
quiet to him, and to always listen as if she was learning, when she
was there and heard him talking, and then Sam liked the sweet way she
always did everything so nicely for him; but Sam never liked to fight
with anybody ever, and surely Rose knew best about Melanctha and
anyway Sam never did really care much about Melanctha. Her mystery
never had had any interest for him. Sam liked it that she was sweet
to him and that she always did everything Rose ever wanted that she
should be doing. But Melanctha never would be important to him. All
Sam ever wanted was to have a little h