"Indeed ye have, Martha. Ye've done yer duty, all right."
"An' haven't I been a good mother to your children?"
"Sure, sure, ye have, Martha. Ye done yer duty to them, too."
"Well, then, Sam'l, why is it that you've treated me in such a manner?
Why have you set my only son against me?"
"I haven't set him aginst ye, Martha. Eben's got a tongue which he's at liberty to use. I s'pose he knows it's no use to speak, fer if ye won't believe me ye won't believe him, so thar. Ye needn't git on yer high-horse about nuthin'."
Mrs. Tobin looked at her husband in surprise, for seldom had he ever spoken to her in such a manner.
"And you've done nothing wrong?" she asked. "Are you sure?"
"No, we ain't done nuthin' wrong 'ccordin' to our way of thinkin'. We sailed by without stoppin', I acknowledge. But is that any crime? Bizness is bizness an' must be attended to."
Captain Tobin felt quite pleased at his own boldness, and for his victory over his wife. He had no idea that she would calm down so soon. Had he made a mistake in always giving in to her? he asked himself. Perhaps if he had been a little more assertive it might have been better for his welfare.
"I suppose the cabin's in a terrible mess." His wife's words suddenly aroused him.