The two looked at each other in embarrassment. As unmarried women, the subject that they had discussed was in some degree questionable.
"Well, hit's in the Bible," Ellen began defensively. "An' yit—174 Sis' an' me didn't know whether you'd care to—to give room to sech as the Scarlet Woman."
It was out. The idea evidently fascinated Roxy.
"That turkey red shore fits the case," she agreed with gusto. "As you say, hit's in the Bible. An' yit, anything that's what a body might call ondecent that-a-way—don't ye reckon a person'd be sort o' 'shamed to—I vow! I'll do it."
"Oh, Miz. Griever!" exclaimed Little Liza of comical dismay at the prompt acceptance in their idea. "I believe I wouldn't. There's the crossin' o' the Red Sea; you could use the turkey red for that jest as easy."
But the widow shook her head.
"Good lands!" she cried, "what you studyin' about, Liza? I say, the crossin' o' the Red Sea! I ain't a-goin' to do no sech a thing. Hit'd take me forever to cut out all them Chillen of Is'rul. And I never in the world would git done makin' Egyptians! No, that turkey red goes into a scarlet woman—to reprove sin."
"Laws, Miz. Griever," began Ellen Hands, solemnly, "looks like yo' family ort to be perfectly happy with that thar quilt in the house. I'm mighty shore I would be. I tell you, sech a work as that is worth a woman's while."
"There's them that thinks different," responded Roxy, with a 175 sort of gloomy yet relishing resentment. "There has been folks lived in this house from the time I started work on it, an' made game of my gospel quilt—made game of it!"
"I reckon I know who you mean," nodded Ellen. And Little Liza added, "She's here to-day, ain't she?—God love her sweet soul! But yo' pappy wouldn't bid Lance, with Buddy here an' all—we know that. They'd be shore to fuss. Man persons is that-a-way."