As she moved her boat out of the secret openings among the dead trees, she heard him whining with fear and calling a volley of curses after her.
That her father's words were all profane did not trouble Ann in the least.

It was a meaningless trick of speech.

Markham meant no more at this time by his most shocking oaths than does any man by his habitual expletive.

Ann knew this perfectly.

God knew it too.
Yet if his profanity was mechanical, the man himself was without trace of good.