CHAPTER IV
"Just as much of doubt as bade us plant a surer foot upon the sun-road."
Doris Fletcher had no turning-back in her nature. She never reached a goal but by patient effort to understand, and she was able to close her eyes to by-paths.
Having adopted the children, having foregone her prejudices—good and evil—having set her feet upon the way, she meant to go unfalteringly on, and because doubts would assail her at times, she held the surer to her task.
She remained a month at Ridge House. She wrote to Thornton and in due time his reply came.
Apparently he had written while bewildered and shocked. The old arrogant tone was gone. He accepted what Doris offered and set aside a generous sum of money for his child's expenses.
It was Sister Angela's suggestion that Mary should become the nurse for the children.
"How much does she know, Sister?"
"Nothing—but what we have permitted her to know. The girl, since knowing of the children, has astonished me by her interest in them. Nothing before has so brought her out of her native reserve. I never suspected it—but the girl has maternal instincts that should not be starved."