"As a baby," chimed in the mild voice of Mrs. Thrasher.
"As the children of heaven," said Mrs. Allen, standing up, and speaking with all the authority of conviction.
"And this is why you would not let the poor thing run away?" inquired the doctor, sharply.
The two women looked at each other guiltily. They had been willing enough that she should run away. It was the sublime faith of the old man, appealing to a consciousness of innocence in the girl herself, that had wrought the noble act of self-abnegation, carried out in Katharine's return.
As for the kind-hearted women, to them Katharine's safety was the first thought; it was with heavy hearts that they had seen her return like a bird to the snare.
"Innocent or guilty she was in the hands of her God," answered the old man. "It was not for weak man like me to wrest her therefrom."
"Perhaps not; but I shall do my best to put all that stuff out of the lawyers' heads," answered the doctor, dryly.
The two women sighed heavily. Mrs. Thrasher looked a little shocked, and was troubled with vague misgivings that no lawyer of less strict principle would be tolerated by her husband.
"We must try and get a conscientious lawyer, if possible," said the old man, coloring under the doctor's words.
The doctor took up his crutches, and crossed them angrily before him.