He was very much excited; he was even surprised at his own excitement; but his thoughts and meditations through the long afternoon had prepared his mind for this manner of viewing the subject.

“These are quite new ideas to me,” said Miss Benson coldly.  “I think you, Thurstan, are the first person I ever heard rejoicing over the birth of an illegitimate child.  It appears to me, I must own, rather questionable morality.”

“I do not rejoice.  I have been all this afternoon mourning over the sin which has blighted this young creature; I have been dreading lest, as she recovered consciousness, there should be a return of her despair.  I have been thinking of every holy word, every promise to the penitent—­of the tenderness which led the Magdalen aright.  I have been feeling, severely and reproachfully, the timidity which has hitherto made me blink all encounter with evils of this particular kind.  O Faith! once for all, do not accuse me of questionable morality, when I am trying more than ever I did in my life to act as my blessed Lord would have done.”

He was very much agitated.  His sister hesitated, and then she spoke more softly than before—­

“But, Thurstan, everything might have been done to ’lead her right’ (as you call it), without this child, this miserable offspring of sin.”

“The world has, indeed, made such children miserable, innocent as they are; but I doubt if this be according to the will of God, unless it be His punishment for the parents’ guilt; and even then the world’s way of treatment is too apt to harden the mother’s natural love into something like hatred.  Shame, and the terror of friends’ displeasure, turn her mad—­defile her holiest instincts; and, as for the fathers—­God forgive them!  I cannot—­at least, not just now.”  Miss Benson thought on what her brother said.  At length she asked, “Thurstan (remember I’m not convinced), how would you have this girl treated according to your theory?”

“It will require some time, and much Christian love, to find out the best way.  I know I’m not very wise; but the way I think it would be right to act in, would be this——­” He thought for some time before he spoke, and then said—­

“She has incurred a responsibility—­that we both acknowledge.  She is about to become a mother, and have the direction and guidance of a little tender life.  I fancy such a responsibility must be serious and solemn enough, without making it into a heavy and oppressive burden, so that human nature recoils from bearing it.  While we do all we can to strengthen her sense of responsibility, I would likewise do all we can to make her feel that it is responsibility for what may become a blessing.”

“Whether the children are legitimate or illegitimate?” asked Miss Benson dryly.

“Yes!” said her brother firmly.  “The more I think, the more I believe I am right.  No one,” said he, blushing faintly as he spoke, “can have a greater recoil from profligacy than I have.  You yourself have not greater sorrow over this young creature’s sin than I have; the difference is this, you confuse the consequences with the sin.”