[figure description] Page 301.[end figure description]

“I declare, I don't know what to think on it!” said
Mrs. Partington, as she looked intently into the water-pail.
The attitude was peculiar, and the iron-bowed
specs were on duty, like a sentry on a bridge, keeping a
bright look-out over the water.

“I can't see into it.”

This was wrong if we take it literally, because the water
was as pure and transparent as her own benevolence.

“I can't see into it, and the more I preponderate upon
it, the more I 'm in a bewilderness. How Mr. Paine can
make light of water is more than I can see, — I can't
throw no light on it. I know it 's made of some sort of
gin. My poor Paul's head used to be made light by gin
and water, but it did n't burn, as they say this will.”

Her listeners stood hatless, almost breathless, as her
voice came up through her cap-border, like the steam
from around the cover of a wash-boiler, while Ike put
the experiment to a practical test by pouring a dipper of
water into the stove.

p677-331

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