IVIV (8): Downstairs Eddie

[Michael Bailey]

"Leo, reaching for one of her discards, said something like, "Now,
you're sure you
don't want that," and as Elmina told it, the minute she looked up
from her cards and into his eyes, she was sure as salvation about
what she did want." (112)

Satire?  Maybe they are a bit like Ma and Pa Kettle...

are we supposed to be like, oh, salvation, that's a religious term
that has no meaning outside of a rejected tradition
and therefore her feeling of certainty is not only cretinous but risible?