Of what use to attempt any further words with one who was surely not responsible for what she said or did? The mother slipped to her knees and began to pray.
A voice of power spoke to her soul, while she was still on her knees, seeking help. It almost seemed to her that she had heard the spoken words:
"'I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known. I will make darkness light before them; and crooked things straight.'"
Oh, the wonderful words! Could there be a human being any blinder than her Daisy? And, how terribly she needed new "paths!"
It was because of this amazing voice that she was able to get through that night, and the early part of the next day and finally to persuade her daughter to receive Mrs. Dunlap in the evening, and hear from her lips what she had to tell.
This was in accordance with that lady's earnest request made over the telephone, she having decided that the mother was physically unable to endure further strain. But that Christian worker had certainly occasion to look back upon the hour spent with Daisy Sheldon as one of the hardest in her by no means easy life. Not that Daisy did not try, at least at first, to treat her in accordance with all the rules of propriety.
But as the story progressed, there was all the time in the narrator's mind the question, "How shall I convince this girl that I am speaking only truth!" She who was used to being trusted implicitly, and quoted as unquestioned authority on all points connected with the work to which she had given her life!
Yet this girl listened in outward calm to the story that had caused her mother's lapse into almost unconsciousness, with a half smile on her lips, that deepened into a sneer when she finally spoke:
"That is a very strange story, Mrs. Dunlap! Being as well acquainted with Mr. Keller as I am, I don't quite understand how I could be expected to credit it! I should really like to see a photograph of this mysterious person, to help me in conceiving how a woman of your discernment could have been so deceived! Although I should remember that your acquaintance with Mr. Keller covered a very brief space of time; while he is, of course, my closest friend."
Could this be the girl who had so very recently clung to her, weeping, and begging to be shielded from even the sight of the man who was her "closest friend!" How could Mrs. Dunlap help giving a second's thought to such a question? But she turned swiftly from it and tried again.