“No, sir, I have never had that disease!”
“And you are willing to risk taking it?”
“Yes, sir!”
“What! and you a young girl! Ain’t you afraid of catching it, and having your face spoiled?”
“Yes, sir, I am afraid of contracting it.”
“Why that is a plain contradiction of yourself; you say you are willing to risk it, and afraid of catching it. I do not understand you at all.”
“Catherine is so simply truthful and straight-forward!” said the lady, smiling; “she means that she is perfectly conscious of the extent of the danger of contagion, but that she thinks it her duty to brave it, nevertheless! Is not that it, my dear? But, Catherine, much as we thank you for your generous self-devotion, we must not permit you to think of going. I must do that, for I have had the disease. If you were to persist in your purpose, my dear girl, you would almost certainly get the small-pox, and then your life, or at the very least, your beauty, would be sacrificed.”
“Beauty!—If I had it and were to lose it, dear lady, there is no one to care for it!”
“Yes, I should care for it, my Kate,” said the lady, putting her arm around the girl’s waist, and drawing her closer.
“In fine, my good girl, you shall not go if you are afraid! That’s certain!” said Mr. Clifton.