“Oh! please don’t look at me like that; it is just an ordinary question. Perhaps I was reading a book and came to it; anyhow, that explanation will do.”
“Yes, as a preface; now for the question.”
“Is it right,” said Nancy—“I mean, could a boy—say a boy, or perhaps a girl, or a man, or a woman—could they, any of them, be put in the sort of position that they must do wrong to make things come right? Would it be possible?”
“I have never heard of the occasion where wrong could be put right by that means,” said the Captain. “Can you give me an instance? Then, perhaps, I could explain better.”
“No, I can’t give you any instance. I was just thinking about it.”
“And it has made you very grave.”
“It—oh no, it hasn’t made me grave.”
“Nancy, it has troubled you.”
“Please, Uncle Peter, I was telling you, you know, because of the book.”
“The book of your heart, Nancy; why don’t you confide in me altogether?”