He growled a reply and turned on his heel.

The churchgoers along the main road received scanty acknowledgment of their greetings.
"Ain't you comin' to meetin' ?" asked Abbie Larkin.
"Naw," snarled Caleb, "I ain't." "Why not?
And it's such a lovely day, too." "Ugh!" "Why ain't you comin' to meetin', Mr.Hammond ?" "'Cause I don't feel like it, that's why." "I want to know! Well, you DON'T seem to be in a pious frame of mind, that's a fact.

Better come; you may not feel like church, but I should say you needed it, if ever anybody did." Caleb did not deign a reply.

He stalked across the road and took the path to the shore.
As he came opposite the Parker cottage he saw Hannah Parker at the window.

He nodded and his nod was returned.