But this speculation did not detain him.

He mused instead upon the splendid library Father Forbes must have.
"Well, how does the book come on?
Have you got to 'my Lady Keturah' yet ?'" It was Alice who spoke, opening the door from the kitchen, and putting in her head with a pretence of great and solemn caution, but with a correcting twinkle in her eyes.
"I haven't got to anybody yet," answered Theron, absently.

"These big things must be approached slowly." "Come out to supper, then, while the beans are hot," said Alice.
The young minister sat through this other meal, again in deep abstraction.

His wife pursued her little pleasantry about Keturah, the second wife, urging him with mock gravity to scold her roundly for daring to usurp Sarah's place, but Theron scarcely heard her, and said next to nothing.

He ate sparingly, and fidgeted in his seat, waiting with obvious impatience for the finish of the meal.