Julia stood still, and some of her colour went.
“I hope he’s not gone——”
“Oh, no fear o’ that. He’s all right, so far. But you know, Julia, your poor vayther was never a church nor a chapel goin’ man.”
“’Cos o’ his legs,” explained Julia.
“Well, I don’t say nothin’ about the raysons, but you know so well as I do, he were not one as went to church or chapel.”
“No,” said the daughter.
“Well, then, how was he to find his way to where he ’ort to ha’ gone to when he left this world of woe? As a fact, he lost his way and got into Americay by mistake.”
“Well, now, I never!” exclaimed Mrs. Redlake.
“Yes, true; he told me so,” said Eli Rattenbury. “I don’t see as you can expect any other. What’d be your situation, missus, if you was to get sudden-like out o’ the train, and be told to find your way to Golconda—or the Transvaal. You’d go wanderin’ about, and ten to one find yourself in quite another place. ’Twas so wi’ your poor father. Hobblin’ on upon them there sticks, he came into the United States o’ North Americay. Well, I seed ’n there in a vision. I thought I were carried there.”