Mrs. Barker met the look in Esther's eyes, and was absolutely dumb.
'Don't you know that?'
'I've heerd it, mum.'
'Well, you understand it?'
'If you please, Miss Esther, I think a body could be that knowed it; that same, I mean.'
'How can anybody be happy that does not know it?'
'True enough, mum; but how is anybody to know it for sure, Miss Esther?'
'I know it, Barker.'
'You, Miss Esther! Yes, mum, that's easy, when you never did nothin' wrong in your life. 'Tain't the way with the likes o' us.'
'It is not the way with anybody. Nothing but the blood of Christ can make any one clean. But that will. And don't you see, Barker, that is being happy?'