In their attempts to foreground the agency of the Native speaker, the disclaimers of white authorial interference traditionally opening 'as-told-tos' barely conceal, in fact often signal, an active editorial presence.

I understand that Mrs. Bassett's ill, and I suppose Bassett didn't like to leave her. There's nothing fuddlesome in that.

The Trojan irruption into the Greek camp is related in Book XV of the Iliad.

'Pfui!' The captain spat. 'I've never met such a dumb sailor as you. So where do you think the old moon goes?'