"
Miss Vance put her lamp on the table and sat down.
"Frances," she said deliberately, "I know what this is to
you. It would have been better for you that George had
died."
"Much better."
"But he didn't die. He married Lisa Arpent. Now it is
your duty to accept it. Make the best of it."
"If a lizard crawls into my house will you tell me to
accept it? Make the best of it? Oh, my God! The slimy
vile creature!"
"She is not vile! I tell you there are lovable qualities
in Lisa. And even if she were as wicked as her mother,
what right have you---- You, too, are a sinner before
God."
"No," said Mrs. Waldeaux gravely, "I am not. I have
lived a good Christian life. I may have been tempted to
commit sin, but I cannot remember that I ever did it."
Miss Vance looked at her aghast. "But surely your
religion teaches you---- Why, you are sinning now, when
you hate this girl!"
"I do not hate her. God made her as he made the lizard.
I simply will not allow her to cross my path. What has
religion to do with it? I am clean and she is vile.
That is all there is to say."
Both women were silent. Mrs. Waldeaux got up at last and
caught Clara by the arm. She was trembling violently.
"No, I'm not ill. I'm well enough. But you don't under-
stand! That woman has killed George. I spent twenty
years in making him what he is. I worked--there was
nothing but him for me in the world. I didn't spare
myself. To make him a gentleman--a Christian.
Pages:
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59