“There, now, I have my good old Uncle back again.” She had always called him Uncle. “But tell me, why do you feel so badly?”
“About them in there?” He jerked his thumb toward the house.
“No-o. I think I can understand your feelings about them. I feel the same way sometimes. If I were the minister it would 18 take all of my religion during the week so I’d have nothing to preach on Sunday. But, there! Father must never hear of my saying that.”
“He ain’t likely to hear it from me.”
“Have you quarreled with Father again?” She stared apprehensively.
Denial sprang to the Captain’s lips, but when he looked into her eyes and saw there the expression of eagerness, he turned away.
“You have!” she averred. “I thought so! And after Father was so kind as to let you have the money to repair and paint your house!”
“Beth, we ain’t exactly quarreled. Leastwise, he ain’t,” he finished lamely.
“Uncle Josiah, why will you and Father never understand each other? Father is so kind and good, and so are you, and yet you are never able to agree. Why is it?” she implored.
“Too much alike, I cal’late. But honest, Beth, I ain’t got nothing particular against your father, and if I had I’d sink my feelings to Davy’s locker for your sake. The trouble 19 is, I’ve been expecting too much, and I ain’t got any right to ask your father to put himself out for an old hulk like me.”