“If so be as the Almighty can recall His word because rebellious creatures to whom His promise was given have backslidden and become perverted,” proclaimed Sarah, “His servant may do the same!”
“You pious folks have always th’ Bible to back ye,” said Josh bitterly, “when you’d wrong your neighbors—or betray your sons!”
“I betray no creature born. After such a down-bringing, paltry, miserable marriage as you ha’ made, do ye suppose I can answer to my departed father for your discretion? Back wi’ ye along to Barracks, and bide there! Discipline be the only rod for a stubborn nature such as yours. ‘Behold, in My love will I chasten you and will not refrain from scourging.’” She added, upon the heels of the text: “Nor shall a penny o’ my money go to buy you out o’ th’ Army. Selah!”
“You ... won’t ... buy me ... out?”
Sarah answered, in one short bark:
“No!”
He clenched his great fist and shouted:
“Who is the blackguard has egged ye on to this? Not—Jowell?”
Her stern conscience forbade her to deny the counsels of the Contractor. Yet, as a pious body of her type will, she evaded the answer direct:
“Mr. Jowell no more than yourself, that be gritting your teeth and clinching your fist at the mother that bore and suckled you.”