“You talk about young Karlsen: I am talking of Holy Writ.”
“But it was Karlsen that....”
“Yes, and I shall thank him for it till my dying day. He it was that opened my eyes, and showed me I was living the life of one accursed; pointed out the goal I can reach—cannot fail to reach—if only I will pay my tithe. Do you know what it says in Malachi? Shall I give you the words of Malachi the Prophet?”
“Ye—es ... if you please,” answers his wife confusedly.
“Yes ... if you please,” echoes Sivert in precisely the same tone. He has a painful habit of taking up his mother’s words when anything excites him.
But Egholm had no time now to punish the interruption; he stood forth and spoke, with threatening sternness:
“‘Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.’
“‘Ye are cursed with a curse....’
“Cursed!” Egholm struck the table with his fist in condemnation. “Do you hear? They are accursed who would rob the Lord—in tithes and offerings!”