“Now I further saw, that between them and the gate was a river.”—Pilgrim’s Progress
“Well, as you please, but I would not do so,” said Mr. Hope, in conversation with Mr. Ewart in the saloon.
“The doctors gave no hope, and I think that in such cases it is only right—it is only kind to let the patient know his danger.”
“Your ideas are different to mine: the shock of being told that you are dying is enough to put out the last spark of life.”
“Not to one who has the faith of Ernest.”
“You would then only hide the truth from a bad man?”
“I would hide it from none; I would act towards others as I should wish them to act towards me. It is cruel to conceal their state from the dying; to send them into the presence of their Maker unwarned, perhaps unprepared.”
“Well, you must break the truth to Ernest yourself, I will not undertake to do it. You know his feelings better than I do, I never could understand them at all.”