But it really seemed to be a relief to him to talk about it ; I never saw a man feeling so sore about anything . He told me the whole story . Prissy had written him a letter -- he fished it out of his pocket and gave it to me to read . It was in Prissy 's prim , pretty little writing , sure enough , and it just said that his attentions were `` unwelcome , '' and would he be `` kind enough to refrain from offering them . '' Not much wonder the poor man went to see Lizzie Pye ! `` Stephen , I 'm surprised at you for thinking that Prissy Strong wrote that letter , '' I said . `` It 's in her handwriting , '' he said stubbornly . `` Of course it is . ` The hand is the hand of Esau , but the voice is the voice of Jacob , ' '' I said , though I was n't sure whether the quotation was exactly appropriate . `` Emmeline composed that letter and made Prissy copy it out . I know that as well as if I 'd seen her do it , and you ought to have known it , too . '' `` If I thought that I 'd show Emmeline I could get Prissy in spite of her , '' said Stephen savagely . `` But if Prissy does n't want me I 'm not going to force my attentions on her . '' Well , we talked it over a bit , and in the end I agreed to sound Prissy , and find out what she really thought about it . I did n't think it would be hard to do ; and it was n't . I went over the very next day because I saw Emmeline driving off to the store . I found Prissy alone , sewing carpet rags . Emmeline kept her constantly at that -- because Prissy hated it I suppose . Prissy was crying when I went in , and in a few minutes I had the whole story . Prissy wanted to get married -- and she wanted to get married to Stephen -- and Emmeline would n't let her .
`` Prissy Strong , '' I said in exasperation , `` you have n't the spirit XXXXX a mouse !
If about at because in of over that though whether