"You're right. I never would. But that's not to say I don't wish it to come out. For them, mind you, I speak. I leave you out now. I put you first and you say you'd like it known. So I go on to them, and I tell you that for their peace of mind and well-being in the future, 'tis better a thousand times they should start open and fair, without the need of this lie between them and the world."
"I don't agree with that. When the truth was told them on his deathbed, 'twas settled it should never go no further."
"Wait and think a moment before you decide. What has it been to you to hide the truth all your life?"
"A necessity. I soon grew used to it. Nobody was hurt by it. And Nathan kept his money."
"Don't fool yourself to think that none was hurt by it. Everybody was hurt by it. A prosperous lie be like a prosperous thistle: it never yet flourished without ripening seed and increasing its own poisonous stock a thousandfold. The world's full of that thistledown. Your children know the truth themselves; therefore I say it should come out. They've no right to stand between you and the thing you want to do. I'll wager Heathman don't care—it's only your daughters."
"More than that. Nathan would never have wished it known."
"No argument at all. He was soaked in crookedness and couldn't see straight for years afore he died."
"I won't have it and I won't argue about it."
"Well, your word's law. But you're wrong; and you'll live to know you're wrong. Now what are you going to do? We'll start as though I knew nought of this for the moment."
"I stop at Undershaugh till spring. I've got no money to name. We shall settle between ourselves—me and Heathman."