She did not seem to understand how it
ought to be viewed, but took it just as if she had a right to
have a baby. She said, 'Oh, my God, I thank Thee! Oh, I will be
so good!' I had no patience with her then, so I left the room."
"Who is with her?"
"Mrs. Hughes. She is not seeing the thing in a moral light, as I
should have expected."
Mr. Benson was silent again. After some time he began--
"Faith, I don't see this affair quite as you do. I believe I am
right."
"You surprise me, brother! I don't understand you."
"Wait awhile! I want to make my feelings very clear to you, but I
don't know where to begin, or how to express myself."
"It is, indeed, an extraordinary subject for us to have to talk
about; but, if once I get clear of this girl, I'll wash my hands
of all such cases again." Her brother was not attending to her;
he was reducing his own ideas to form. "Faith, do you know I
rejoice in this child's advent?"
"May God forgive you, Thurstan!--if you know what you are saying.
But, surely, it is a temptation, dear Thurstan."
"I do not think it is a delusion. The sin appears to me to be
quite distinct from its consequences."
"Sophistry--and a temptation," said Miss Benson decidedly.
"No, it is not," said her brother, with equal decision. "In the
eye of God, she is exactly the same as if the life she has led
had left no trace behind. We knew her errors before, Faith.
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