The plot of this double love story turns on the feud between the Regulars and Come Outers religious sects in a Cape Cod village. Author interprets local character and events through the shrewd comments of Keziah Coffin, housekeeper to the young Regular minister.
she had none--"why, Aunt Keziah! What do you mean by comparing the-- the person you just mentioned with a MINISTER!"
"Oh, I wasn't comparin' 'em; I'll leave that for you Come-Outers to do. Drat this carpet! Seems's if I never saw such long tacks; I do believe whoever put 'em down drove 'em clean through the center of the earth and let the Chinymen clinch 'em on t'other side. I haul up a chunk of the cellar floor with every one. Ah, hum!" with a sigh, "I cal'late they ain't any more anxious to leave home than I am. But, far's the minister's concerned, didn't I hear of your Uncle Eben sayin' in prayer meetin' only a fortni't or so ago that all hands who wa'n't Come-Outers were own children to Satan? Mr. Ellery must take after his father some. Surprisin', ain't it, what a family the old critter's got."
The girl laughed again. For one brought up, since her seventh year, in the strictest of Come-Outer families, she laughed a good deal. Many Come-Outers considered it wicked to laugh. Yet Grace did
A delightful romance, though with some serious purposes. It's a bit of forbidden love, caused by differences between the two churches in a small town. Good regionalism, too. I recommend it for light, fun reading.
