Yes.

[He projects his voice enough so he can be heard from the ground, but otherwise, the tone of it sounded like he was grumbling. And rather petulantly at that.

Maybe he couldn't bank on the man getting fed up and wandering off, but there was still absolutely no way he was coming down, even if he has to express it with whiny sarcasm.]

I'm staying up here forever. I jus'-- [Another sniffle.] I just need some hay and sawdust. Everything in this house is hard and old.