"But I wasn't;--not particular. Lord love you, he ain't a hair the wuss."
"You let her alone for a time," said Mrs. Hurtle. "A little neglect will do her good."
"Maybe," said John,--"only I wouldn't like her to have it bad. You'll let her have her wittles regular, Mrs. Pipkin."
It was then explained to him that the neglect proposed should not extend to any deprivation of food, and he took his leave, receiving an assurance from Mrs. Hurtle that he should be summoned to town as soon as it was thought that his presence there would serve his purposes; and with loud promises repeated to each of the friendly women that as soon as ever a "line should be dropped" he would appear again upon the scene, he took Mrs. Pipkin aside, and suggested that if there were "any hextras," he was ready to pay for them. Then he took his leave without seeing Ruby, and went back to Bungay.
When Ruby returned with the children she was told that John Crumb had called. "I thought as he was in prison," said Ruby.

"But I wasn't; not particular. Lord love you, he ain't a hair the worse."
"You let her alone for a time," said Mrs. Hurtle. "A little neglect will do her good."
"Maybe," said John. "I wouldn't like her to have it bad."
Mrs. Hurtle assured him that he should be summoned to town as soon as it was thought that his presence there would serve his purposes; and he took Mrs. Pipkin aside, and suggested that if there were "any hextras," he was ready to pay for them. Then he took his leave without seeing Ruby, and went back to Bungay.
When Ruby returned with the children she was told that John Crumb had called.
"I thought as he was in prison," said Ruby.
