Dixon withdrawing, broken into a Sweat, "Why aye, it took me weeks of study to fathom that one, but I see You've a brisk Brain in Your gourd there, and I'm pleas'd to be working with such as it be...?"
**********
Line 137 Vulgarized:
Dixon, noticing Mason's flinch and growing worried he's made a bad impression, removes his hand and says, "Why, it took me forever to get that joke. But you've got a good brain on you while I'm just happy that mine works as well as it does."
Subtext:
Dixon understands that until he's aboard ship and bunked next to Mason, he doesn't actually have the job. So he's quick to apologize when he stumbles and compliment Mason as he denigrates himself to assure Mason he means no harm and, if harm has been caused, it's because he's just a rural dimwit. I sure would like to know what the punchline to that joke was though!
I'm not entirely sure if Dixon speaks in questions because that's part of his country accent or if he's deferring to Mason in a way that allows for anything he says to be agreeably negated. Not only does he seem to understand that dialogue is rife with opportunities for miscommunication but he's already seen it happen multiple times in their brief liaison. He's attempting to be careful but he started out a bit too strong and now he's backpedaling as fast as he can before he loses the job.
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