“It isn’t to be on account of the fight, though. Oh, I was real bad and listened,” she explained to the surprised seaman. “I didn’t mean to at first, but I couldn’t help hearing. Then, I had to listen to the rest. I shall tell Father what I have done just as soon as I can, for I know it was wicked of me. I felt I must come to you. They are going to find something in his sermons that isn’t orthodox, and then, there is to be a church trial! That was what I didn’t want to tell you for fear you wouldn’t understand, but you didn’t suggest anything for me to do, and I had to tell you. Can’t you get Mr. McGowan to be careful what he puts in his sermons?”
“Am I to tell him whose orders they be?”
“Indeed, not!”
“A heap of good it will do, then, for me to say anything. He’d take it as a banter for a fight. Cal’late we’ll have to trust to luck that he’ll stick to the old chart.”
Elizabeth slid from the roof of the cabin to the deck. She walked to the railing and looked over into the water. The Captain, thinking she was ready to go ashore, followed. 150 She swung about, and stamped her foot, angrily.
“Why don’t you men know how to act! Why doesn’t he know how to behave himself!”
She turned back and looked out across the Sound. The mainland showed dim through the haze of the Indian Summer morning.
“Beth, I hate to see you worrying like this,” said the Captain, a tremor in his voice. “I wish I could help you, I sartin wish I could.”
She came to him, and laying her hand lightly on his sleeve, looked eagerly into his eyes.