Suddenly Margery began to cry as if she could not help it.
“Oh,” she exclaimed. “No one knows what a good brother he is—nobody but myself. He is willing to give up everything to—to save me—and to save poor mother from awful trouble. Sometimes I think he is something like Christ—even like Christ! He is willing to suffer for other people—for their pain—and weakness—and sin.”
It was so evident that the change which had taken place in her was a woeful one. Her bright loveliness was gone—her simple, lovable happiness. Her nerves seemed all unstrung. But it was the piteous, strained look in her childlike eyes which stirred poor Susan’s breast to tumult.
“Margery,” she said, almost trembling, “if—if—if you was to go in a consumption and die—you’re not like me—you needn’t be afraid.”
The next moment she was sorry she had said the crude thing. Margery burst into a passion of weeping. Susan flew to her and caught her in her arms, kneeling down by her.
“I oughtn’t to have said it,” she cried. “You’re too ill to be made to think of such things. I was a fool not to see—Margery, Margery, don’t!”
But Margery was too weak to be able to control her sobbing.
“They say that—that God forgives people,” she wept. “I’ve prayed and prayed to be forgiven for—for my sins. I’ve never meant to be wicked. I don’t know—I don’t know how——”
“Hush!” said Susan, soothing and patting her trembling shoulder. “Hush, hush! If there is a God, Margery, He’s a heap sight better than we give Him credit for. He don’t make people a’ purpose, so they can’t help things somehow—an’ don’t know—an’ then send ’em to burning hell for bein’ the way He made ’em. We wouldn’t do it, an’ He won’t. You hain’t no reason to be afraid of dyin’.”
Margery stayed with her about half an hour. There was a curious element in their conversation. They spoke as if their interview was a final one. Neither of them actually expressed the thought in words, but a listener would have felt vaguely that they never expected to meet each other again on earth. They made no references to the future; it was as if no future could be counted upon. Afterwards, when she was alone, Susan realised that she had never once said “when you come back from Europe.”