Mark Twain: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

26. CHAPTER XXVI. (continued)

"Did you ever see the king?"

"Who? William Fourth? Well, I bet I have -­ he goes to our church." I knowed he was dead years ago, but I never let on. So when I says he goes to our church, she says:

"What -­ regular?"

"Yes -­ regular. His pew's right over opposite ourn -­ on t'other side the pulpit."

"I thought he lived in London?"

"Well, he does. Where WOULD he live?"

"But I thought YOU lived in Sheffield?"

I see I was up a stump. I had to let on to get choked with a chicken bone, so as to get time to think how to get down again. Then I says:

"I mean he goes to our church regular when he's in Sheffield. That's only in the summer time, when he comes there to take the sea baths."

"Why, how you talk -­ Sheffield ain't on the sea."

"Well, who said it was?"

"Why, you did."

"I DIDN'T nuther."

"You did!"

"I didn't."

"You did."

"I never said nothing of the kind."

"Well, what DID you say, then?"

"Said he come to take the sea BATHS -­ that's what I said."

"Well, then, how's he going to take the sea baths if it ain't on the sea?"