‘I saw such a rock-cliff as this once,’ she said, ‘and I said I would…’

‘We could go to Phillips’s place, and if we don’t like there we will go further until we find the land we want.’

‘And I said that sometimes I would climb to the top and see far out, mountains maybe, or cities…’

‘I will kiss you another time. I could sit here the whole of enduren life. If any man ever offered you any insult or any dirt just name his name to me and I’ll give the nasty skunk my fist in his jaw.’

‘And now I am on the top of a rock-cliff and I can see the hickory trees down past the rock shoulder, scaly trees you can see there.’

‘We will not part any more. Some fair country is what we’ll find, and never part, me and you.’

‘If it would be light I could see a far piece I know, but now it is dark but for the little way the moon goes.’

‘Rich soil, all cleared, land worth a man’s sweat. And all my work will be for you all day.’

‘Or if it is mountains to see, blue they’ll be, with trees over the top. Or cities. Could we see a city from this here place by day, do you reckon?’

‘Your mouth is sweet to taste and your hand against my skin, sweet. I can hear your heart beat inside your shoulder and I can feel it beat in your throat.’

‘I used to think when I was a youngone, Jasper, that all the things you read about or hear came to pass in some country, all in one country somewheres. “Oh, Mary go and call the cattle home,” and “Lady Nancy died like it might be today,” all in one country.’

‘I’ll buy you whatever you want, just name it to me. And we’ll not see any more trouble, e’er a bit. Whatever you so desire.’

‘All in one country somewheres, as “Bangum rode to the wild boar’s den”, and “He married Virgin Mary the queen of Galilee”. A country a far piece off.’

‘If it so be that it’s in my power.’

‘Off past Tennessee somewheres.’

‘God knows, I would, Ellie.’

‘All in one country somewheres.’

‘God knows.’

‘But now I know better and know how the world is, a little.’

‘The moon makes your eyes big and deep and your mouth, it’s sweet like honey drips.’

‘If day came we could maybe see as far as Phillips’s and see the house we’d have, our house where we will live. To live together and we’ll never be lonesome.’

‘Your fingers on my neck and on my throat, they are soft, Ellie, like feathers, and they rub gentle-like up and down…’

‘Or our own house sometime, that belongs to us and all our own stock in the pastures. Three quick taps on the farm bell to call you to dinner. A rose to grow up over the chimney. A row of little flowers down to the gate.’