Mehalah strode forward, and held out her hand to clasp that offered her. Elijah swung his musket suddenly about, and unless she had hastily recoiled, the barrel would have struck, perhaps broken, her wrist.
'You refused my hand,' he said, 'although you are mine. I bought the Ray for eight hundred pounds.' Then turning to the young man with sullenness, he asked, 'George De Witt, what brings you here?'
'Why, cousin, I've a right to be here as well as you.'
'No, you have not. I have bought the Ray, and no man sets foot on this island against my will.'
The young man laughed good-humouredly.
'You won't keep me off your property then, Elijah, so long as Glory is here?'
Elijah made a motion as though he would speak angrily, but restrained himself with an effort. He said nothing, but his eyes followed every movement of Mehalah Sharland. She turned to him with an exultant splendour in her face, and pointing to the canvas bag on the table, said, 'There is the money. Will you take the rent at once, or wait till it is due?'
'It is not due till next Thursday.'
'We do not pay for a few weeks. Three weeks' grace we have been hitherto allowed.'
'I give no grace.'