“No, no, no,” he growled, “'tain't any such thing. Your boardin' there's a good thing for Martha. She needs the money.”
Galusha was troubled.
“I'm sorry to hear that,” he said. “She is not—ah—not pinched for means, I hope. Not that that is my business, of course,” he added, hastily.
Captain Jeth's reply was gruff and rather testy.
“She'll come out all right,” he said, “if she's willin' to do as I do and wait. I know I'll come out right. Julia told me so, herself.”
Galusha had forgotten, momentarily.
“Julia?” he repeated.
“My WIFE.”
“Oh—oh, yes, yes, of course.”
In these conversations Bangs learned to steer the talk as far as possible from the subjects of life beyond the grave or of spirit communications. The slightest touch here and the captain was off, his eyes shining beneath his heavy brows, and his face working with belligerent emotion. A hint of doubt or contradiction and trouble followed immediately.