“What?” said Nan. “You frighten me.”
“That happens which is the result of sin. You do not suffer any more pain; your conscience ceases to prick you; that voice within you is tired, and will not speak any more because you have treated it so badly. That is what will happen in the lower path on which you are preparing to walk.”
“You terrify me. I am sorry I came. I will not stay any longer. I could not tell.”
“Come here, Nancy, and let us talk it over.”
“I cannot—I do not want to say any more. Let us forget it.”
“My dear child, you would not have come to me if you had not hoped”——
“Yes; I hoped that you would show me the middle path.”
“There is none. Nancy dear, will you not confide in me if I faithfully promise that I will not tell any one what you have done.”
Nan paused to think.
“I should like to,” she said, “but I have promised not to tell.”