GREATER THAN LOVE
“And to be a preacher’s mistress,” said Hws Morris. “Great is the work the Big Man has called me to do.”
A murmuring came from the women on the beach: Sam was struggling in the water. Esther moved a little nearer the sea.
“Where was you going to, then?” asked Hws Morris. “You was not going to bathe with them?”
“Why for no?”
“See you how immodest they are. Girl fach, stay you here. If you need to wash your body, go you round to the backhead of the old stones and take off your clothes and bathe where no eyes will gaze on you.”
The murmuring now sounded violent: Lloyd the Schoolin’ was swimming towards Sam.
Esther passed beyond the stones, and in a cave she cast off her clothes and walked into the sea; and having cleansed herself, she dried her skin in the heat of the sun.
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