Cyprian glanced up at him sharply, but his ferrety eyes were fanatically searching the embers for an answer to the question troubling him.
"The Nicobarese are really a moral people. The w-women have equal rights w-with the men; in fact, being so necessary for the continuance of the race, they are really considered more valuable than the men. And, though among the Unconverted, a divorce can easily be arranged by the co-respondent's paying the injured husband a fine of pigs, one seldom hears of such a disastrous necessity."
There was a pause, during which Ferlie cleared her throat nervously.
Then Cyprian sat upright. "And by this you are leading up to tell us, Padre...?"
"That there is a couple of professing Christians, living in sin in the midst of the Mission," said Jellybrand dejectedly.
It was out, and Ferlie sighed a little tired sigh. So, even here, they were to meet with criticism. She was past interesting herself as to how he had guessed. She hoped Cyprian would be patient with him. But Cyprian, blinking rapidly in a manner that foreboded battle answered: "I should have thought that what you may call 'living in sin' was nobody's business but their own."
Little Jellybrand looked his amazement at this unsympathetic attitude, from one to the other.
"How can it not be my business?" he asked in a hurt voice. "I am here to see that they set a good example to one another. And these were two of my own children. I baptized them with my own hands."
This naïve admission drew a choking laugh from Ferlie. As the padre turned his astonished face towards her Cyprian exclaimed impatiently:
"Good Lord, man! Are you referring to two of the natives?"