"It were remarked in Church, this marning, Abram, as 'ee was not present."
"I were not!" he lifted his head and looked at her, the light shone in from the window and illuminated his battered countenance.
"So being an old friend——"
"And very considerate of 'ee, Mrs. Hanson," he said. "I will finish my chapter," he added.
She sat there waiting, she watched him as with the forefinger of his right hand, which appeared to her to be abnormally long and curiously flattened at the end, he traced a line across the page, stopping at every word, which though he uttered it not aloud, he evidently formed by muscular exertion of his jaws. His left hand not being engaged with the book was twisting and tearing the edge of the red flannel table cloth.
Mrs. Hanson shut her eyes, she could hear Abram's stertorous breathing, then she heard a movement. He had evidently finished, he closed the book solemnly.
"I hev finished my chapter," he said; "spiritual comfort be a very great blessing, Mrs. Hanson."
"Ah!" she said. "We had Nabob's vineyard for the sarmint to-day, Abram, and 'ymn seventy-two, as I know 'ee be partial to."
He nodded.
She wondered if he would tell her about his face, not for all the world would she transgress the unwritten laws of politeness and ask for an explanation. The reason, however, why he had not been present at Church was obvious.