The minister sobered instantly.
“But it ain’t right defaming the dead like that.”
“I ain’t defaming no one. Don’t get mad, Clemmie. Adoniah told the yarn himself.”
“Well, it ain’t to his credit, and I ain’t so sure he told it with that bad word in it.”
“He sartin did. That’s what makes it funny.”
“If you wasn’t so anxious to use them words you’d not be telling such stories, and, of all people, to the minister.”
“He’s heerd me say lots worse ones than that. I was telling it for illustration. You see, Jim has got the idea that he’s looking to his laurels, and he ain’t doing nothing but barking at his barrels, and empty ones at that.”
“You’d best not try to illustrate if you can’t use words decent enough to listen to,” answered Miss Pipkin as she left the room.
Late that evening Mr. McGowan drew the Captain into his study. A cheery fire was crackling in the fire-back. The minister placed a chair before the grate and slid another near. For some time the two men sat looking into the fire. As Mr. McGowan tossed in another stick of wood, he turned toward the seaman.