ar 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."

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. Oh, 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 a