“And I tell you, Elkanah Daniels, I'll have no blasphemy here. That little sanctuary up the road is founded on a rock and neither you nor any of your Phariseein' priest-worshipin' crew can shake it. The Almighty'll protect His own. As for the Reg'lar church, that's no concern of mine.”
“But I tell you 'tis your concern. Or if the church isn't, your own family is.”
“My—my family?”
“Yes, your own family. Huh! that makes you listen, don't it?”
There was an instant of silence. Grace, crouching on the stairs, noticed the change in her uncle's voice as he answered.
“My own family?” he repeated slowly. “My own—And the Reg'lar church—What do you mean? Has Nat—”
“No, he ain't. But that cussed girl of yours—”
“Stop!” Eben's shout rang through the house. The listener heard it, rose, and then sank slowly to her knees.
“Stop!” shouted Captain Hammond. “Elkanah Daniels, for your own sake now, be careful. If you dast to say a word, another word like that, I'll—”
“If I dast! The hussy! But there's no use talkin' to you. You're as crazy as a Bedlamite. Either that, or you're in the game with her. If you are, I warn you—”