“Isn’t it shocking, Thurstan?  You might have knocked me down with a straw when he told me.”

“Does she know?”

“Yes; and I am not sure that that isn’t the worst part of all.”

“How?—­what do you mean?”

“Oh, I was just beginning to have a good opinion of her; but I’m afraid she is very depraved.  After the doctor was gone, she pulled the bed-curtain aside, and looked as if she wanted to speak to me. (I can’t think how she heard, for we were close to the window, and spoke very low.) Well, I went to her, though I really had taken quite a turn against her.  And she whispered, quite eagerly, ‘Did he say I should have a baby?’ Of course I could not keep it from her; but I thought it my duty to look as cold and severe as I could.  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.”

“Yes, but not this disgrace—­this badge of her shame!”

“Faith, Faith! let me beg of you not to speak so of the little innocent babe, who may be God’s messenger to lead her back to Him.  Think again of her first words—­the burst of nature from her heart!  Did she not turn to God, and enter into a covenant with Him—­’I will be so good’?  Why, it draws her out of herself!  If her life has hitherto been self-seeking and wickedly thoughtless, here is the very instrument to make her forget herself, and be thoughtful for another.  Teach her (and God will teach her, if man does not come between) to reverence her child; and this reverence will shut out sin,—­will be purification.”