CHAPTER XV. — CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE.
When Captain Buckingham ended, it was late and dark, the afternoon long gone into evening. The storm still roared around Pemberton's, and we five sat anchored close to the chimney. It might have been a quarter of an hour went by, and it was past time when Pemberton or Stevey Todd should be getting the supper ready, when there came a sudden tumult in the hall without, and some one bounced in, the snow flying after him, and he cried, “I've eloped and I want a minister!” That was how he stated it: “I've eloped and I want a minister!”
Then Pemberton said:
“I dare say now you're right there,” and Captain Buckingham said nothing, nor looked up.
I knew it must be Billy Corliss, though I didn't know him, nor did Uncle Abimelech, nor Stevey Todd. He might have blown down from Labrador, or eloped out of Nova Scotia.
Pemberton and Corliss went out together. Then Stevey Todd spoke up cautiously:
“When I look at it,” he said, “when I asks myself: 'Is he right or is he not?' I don't hear no objections. And further,” he said, leaning forward and speaking low, “it's my opinion there's a woman out there.”
Uncle Abimelech lifted his eyes from the kettle that hung over the fire, and stared about and seemed to be alarmed.
“Where?” said Uncle Abimelech.