"Serve her? You are trying some sort of trick to get money."
"Miss Smith'll see that I'm comfortable as long as I live, sir. That's all I want."
"You're trying some game to enrich yourself, and you've got Adam's wife helping you."
'Dolphus laughed out; it was a weak, hysterical giggle. "Beg pardon, sir, but the woman ain't in it. Beg pardon, I can't help laughing, sir. Reckon good, religious ladies would be a sight better off without that thieving yaller girl waiting on them."
He laughed weakly till he coughed again.
Durgan, revolted beyond measure, swore within himself that Eve should never pollute the house of the sisters by entering it again.
"Get home. Get out of my sight. If you come out here again I'll have the General turn you out of the district."
He spoke as to a dog, but the dog did not turn and run. He leaned against a tree out of sheer weakness, but faced his enemy steadily.
"No, sir; you can't frighten me, 'cause I'm a dying man, anyway. Miss Smith, she'll speak to the General, and to the Almighty too, for me. I'll die easier 'cause I know she will." His voice had grown thin, and now vibrated with excitement. "I've just got one thing more to say, sir. You'll see I'm not frightened of you when I say it. If you knew the sort o' wife you've got, sir, and what she's been hiding, you'd look after her better than you do; and if you value your salvation, you'll stand by the pious little lady on the hill; you'll be happier when you come to die."