"It strikes me that you and this precious savage had become quite intimate. I suppose in a few weeks longer you would have left us and lived with him altogether."
The tears trickled down Teddy's cheeks, and he made answer in a meek, mournful tone:
"Plaise forgive me, Mister Harvey, and Miss Cora. Yees both knows I would die for yees, and it was little I dr'amed of a savage iver disecrating this house by an ungentlemanly act. Teddy never'll sarve yees the like agin."
"I have no faith in the promises of a man who is intemperate."
The Irishman raised his hand to heaven:
"May the good Father above strike me dead if I iver swallow another drop! Do yees belave me now. Mister Harvey?"
"You must not place the reliance in your own power, Teddy. Ask His assistance and you'll succeed."
"I'll do so; but, ye saa, the only mill where I could get the cursed stuff was of this same Indian, and as I politely towld him I'd practice wid me gun on him if he offered me anither drop, and, as I'd pick him off now, after this shine, as quick as I would a sarpent, it ain't likely he'll bother me agin."
"I hope not, but I have the same apprehension as Cora that he will return when we least expect him. We must manage so that we are never both away from the house at the same time. It is now getting well along in the afternoon, Teddy; you may prepare your fish for supper."
The Irishman obediently moved away, and the young missionary and his wife were left together.