"It belongs to Mista Quin," urged the "Missus."
"Him never lead him," said Sam triumphantly. "My putty him away and Mista Quin him never savvy."
Perhaps that was true. But then was not "Tchorch" wicked too?
Her lips trembled and she opened the book again at the fiery picture.
"What t'at picture?" asked Sam, quite eager to see.
"It's hell," said Jenny, trembling.
"Ah," said Sam, "t'at Debelo's house. T'at all light. Wong him velly clever man, him say Debble-Debble here all light, but only China-side belong God. My tinkee too. Wong say one time no food, no licee, and evelybody hungly, and makee player to Posa, allo same God, and nex' day one foot licee all over. T'at China-side, galaw. But my no can stay: my cookee chow-chow: Missus no cly, Debble-Debble never take litty gal, Missus."
But the fact remained that even Sam believed the devil was in British Columbia (and all America, of course), even if God only thought of China. On the whole Sam's cheerful intervention did harm rather than good. Jenny did put the book away and tried not to think of the "hyas piah," but as the evening came on there was a gorgeous sunset and even that brought fire to her timid mind. When it was dark she shivered and was glad to see a light. Then she got out the book again.
She was living a very wicked life, oh, yes, the missionaries would say that. She was Pete's wife and was living with Tchorch! That was very wrong, it was against the Commandments.
What ought she to do?