Essec Powell had stopped to dine with a farmer living near the chapel, and did not return home until near tea-time.
Then burst upon the girl the storm she had so long dreaded; her uncle's anger had already been roused by his brother's "will," and his feelings of greed and spite had been augmented by the information imparted to him by his deacons.
"How dare you ?" he said.

His eyes flashed with anger, and his voice trembled with the intensity of his fury.
Valmai, who was arranging something on the tea-table, sank down on a chair beside it; and Gwen, carrying a slice of toast on a fork, came in to listen.

To hear her master speak in such excited tones was an event so unusual as to cause her not only astonishment but pleasure.
Shoni, too, was attracted by the loud tones, and stood blocking up the doorway.
Valmai flung her arms on the table, and leant her head upon them, sobbing quietly.
"Are you not ashamed of yourself ?" thundered the old man.

"Sitting at my table, sleeping under my roof, and attending my chapel--and all the time to be the vile thing that you are! Dear Uncle John, indeed! what would your dear Uncle John say of you now?
You fooled him as you have fooled me.

Do you think I can bear you any longer in the house with me ?" There was no answer from Valmai, and the old man, angered by her silence, clutched her by the arm and shook her violently.
"Stop there!" said Shoni, taking a step forward, and thrusting his brawny arm protectingly over the girl's bent head.