"
"No, never, not if you'd awnly turn your faace the right way. Theer's
oceans o' comfort an' love waitin' for 'e, gal. You did belong to a hard
world, as I knaws who have just comed from speech wi' your faither; but
'twas a world o' clean eatin' an' dressin' an' livin'--a God-fearin' world
leadin' up'ards on a narrer, ugly road, but a safe road, I s'pose. An' you
left it. You'll say I be harsh, but my heart do bleed for 'e, Joan. If
you'd awnly drop this talk 'bout Nature, as none of us understands, an'
turn to the livin' Christ, as all can understand. That's wheer rest lies
for 'e, nowheers else. You'm like Eve in the garden. She was kindiddled an'
did eat an' lost eternal life an' had to quit Eden. An' 'tis forbidden
fruit as you've ate, not knawin' 'twas sich. Nature doan't label her
pisins, worse luck."
"Eve? No, I ban't no Eve. She had Adam."
There was a world of sorrow in the words and the hopeless ring in them
startled Uncle Chirgwin, for it denoted greater changes in the girl's mind
than he thought existed. She seemed nearer to the truth. It cut his heart
to see her suffering, but he thanked Heaven that the inevitable knowledge
was coming, and prayed it might be the first step toward peace. He was
silent with his thoughts, and Joan spoke again, repeating her last words.
"Iss, Eve had Adam to put his arm around her an' kiss her wet eyes. He were
more to her than what the garden was, I'll lay, or God either.
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