What would have been
the effect on her if she had been made aware of its fearful
consequences? Furthermore, would he have been believed? And then--
awful thought, the child might have suspected him of attempting to
shield himself at her expense! Do you think you could be capable of
such sacrifice, Mr Palmer?'
Frank hesitated. 'It would--'
'The question is not fair, Madge,' said Mrs Hopgood, interrupting
him. 'You are asking for a decision when all the materials to make
up a decision are not present. It is wrong to question ourselves in
cold blood as to what we should do in a great strait; for the
emergency brings the insight and the power necessary to deal with it.
I often fear lest, if such-and-such a trial were to befall me, I
should miserably fail. So I should, furnished as I now am, but not
as I should be under stress of the trial.'
'What is the use,' said Clara, 'of speculating whether we can, or
cannot, do this or that? It IS now an interesting subject for
discussion whether the lie was a sin.'
'No,' said Madge, 'a thousand times no.'
'Brief and decisive. Well, Mr Palmer, what do you say?'
'That is rather an awkward question. A lie is a lie.'
'But not,' broke in Madge, vehemently, 'to save anybody whom you
love. Is a contemptible little two-foot measuring-tape to be applied
to such an action as that?'
'The consequences of such a philosophy, though, my dear,' said Mrs
Hopgood, 'are rather serious.
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