Perhaps Mrs. Valentine was unreasonable to expect that her past experience should serve for Prue. There was a slight pause, and then—
"Some men one can be sure would not act so."
"Yes: but one cannot be sure what other kind of unhappiness might be bound up in the thing one wants. God knows best."
"I never doubt that . . . One doesn't question His knowing best . . . The difficulty is not to wish for the thing He denies—even if it is bad for one. Or to believe that it can be bad."
"If we could see a little way on, I suppose we should be willing always, Prue. I mean if we could see beyond the border of this life. If we could know how much each single step here tells upon our future there . . . I suppose we should choose for ourselves the very things that God does choose for us now, because they would so clearly be the best . . . Perhaps that is clearer to me than to you, because I am nearer the border."
"Mother—you may not be. Who knows? . . . Do you think we should choose—not to have the things we want most—even if we could see—"
"If we could see the evil they would bring? Yes, surely we have sense enough for that."
"But if God gives the thing we long for, cannot He keep it from being an evil? He has all power. Is there ever a 'must be' of that kind?"
"In one sense—no. But He will not work needless miracles, dear. Why should He? If you drink a cup of poison, however unconsciously, you will die. God could save your life, of course, but in most cases the poison does its work."
Prue smiled faintly. The "thing" which she had in her mind seemed so far removed from any poisonous tendencies.