“Well, I don’t wonder,” said the girl, with a heavy sigh. “I should think that some parts of the Bible would make them feel decidedly uncomfortable. Of course, there are many classes of criminals,” she added, quickly. “There are those who sin through weakness and those who are deliberately vicious. Then, of course, there are the others who sin almost from necessity.”
The woman looked at her in a little surprise. She had not expected so young a girl to be so serious on this subject.
“The good Word comforts each of these classes,” was her only answer. “If they are truly sorry they will be forgiven.”
Marion’s next remark showed that she was thinking more than listening.
“Society is all to blame,” she said, very soberly. “If conditions were right, there would be very few criminals, and none, I am sure, of the last class I mentioned. If you could only read the Bible to our lawmakers, madam, and to the rich men and women who are mighty and all powerful.”
The woman smiled and looked at her curiously.
“Perhaps you are right,” she said, after a minute, “but we should rise above conditions and not be slaves to them.”
“That is easier said than done,” said Marion, sharply. “When a man’s strength is deficient he is not to blame for it.”
“They should have prayed for strength,” said the woman, devoutly, “and at any rate they should not have fallen into sin. It is their own fault that they are here doing penance for their wickedness.”