"
Her relief was so great that the tears ran down her face. "It is
best!"
"Best to be with you," Dr, Lavendar repeated thoughtfully; "Why, Mrs.
Richie?"
"Why? Why because I want him so much, I have nothing in the whole
world, Dr. Lavendar, but David. Nothing."
"Other folks might want him."
"But nobody can do as much for him as I can! I have a good deal of
money."
"You mean you can feed him, and clothe him, and educate him? Well; I
could do that myself. What else can you do?"
"What else?"
"Yes. One person can give him material care about as well as another.
What else can you do?"
"Why--" she began, helplessly; "I don't think I know just what you
mean?"
"My friend," said Dr. Lavendar, "are you a good woman?"
The shock of the question left her speechless. She tried to meet his
eye; quailed, half rose: "I don't know what you mean! What right have
you to ask me such a question--"
Dr, Lavendar waited.
"Perhaps I don't think about things, quite as you do. I am not
religious; I told you that. I don't do things because of religion; I
believe in--in reason, not in religion. I try to be good in--my way. I
don't know that I've been what you would call 'good.'"
"What do I call 'good'?"
At which she burst out that people in Old Chester thought that people
who did not live according to convention were not good. For her part,
convention was the last thing she thought of.
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