"'But I know ye that ye have not the love of God in ye,'" read Tess.
Ben Letts broke in upon the girl's voice:
"Tessie, will ye row on the lake after the goin' down of the sun? I'll take my fiddle.... Ye like my fiddlin', don't ye, Tess?"
"Nope," she replied, her eyes still upon the book. "'I am come in my Father's name, and ye—'"
Ezra interrupted the unfinished verse.
"Tessibel, will ye go to the meetin' at Haytes'? The man says as how the squatters air welcome."
"Nope.... 'receive me not,'" read Tess. "'If another shall come—'"
Ben burst forth with an eager invitation:
"Will ye come to Glenwood for some ice-cream, Tessie? It air gooder'n pie on hot nights; and ye like my fiddlin', don't ye, Tess?"
"Nope.... 'In His own name, ye will—'"