“To get her into the Church; to make a hypocrite of her.”
“The Church ain’t such a bad thing, accordin’ to my way o’ thinkin’,” said the old woman. “Both o’ ye’d be better off if ye seen more of it. Who was the other young lady?”
“That was Miss Chichester, mother.”
“What did she want?”
“She wanted,” replied Lamar, “to protect young Malleson.”
“Can’t the man take care of himself?”
“Not when Mary’s around, he can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Ask Mary.”
But the old woman didn’t ask Mary; she gave a little, cackling laugh, and retreated to the kitchen, closing the door behind her.