Tom Davis not in hell, indeed!" Mr.Dean stopped for breath.

Alfaretta's courage came back with a rush.
"Listen to me," cried the young woman, stamping her foot with excitement, for she was as angry as the elder himself,--"listen to me! How can you say such things about her?
A saint and angel, if ever there was one.

The Lord don't send no one to hell, let alone such as her.

An' any way, I'd rather go to the bad place with her than stay with all the golden harps and crowns in the best sort of a heaven with them as would keep her out, so I would!" Here Alfaretta broke down, and began to cry.

Thaddeus could not stand that; he edged up to her, murmuring, "I wouldn't cry, Retta,--I wouldn't cry." But she only gave the shoulder he touched a vicious shake, and cried harder than ever, saying, "No--I--I bet you wouldn't--you'd never--care." But Alfaretta's defense changed Mr.Dean's anger at the snub he received from the preacher's wife into real alarm for his child's spiritual welfare.