"God knows what is best," I remarked.
"She has nothing to live for in this world." A sob broke from its
repression, and heaved the mother's bosom. "O Doctor, if I saw the
death dews on her brow, I would not weep!"
"Leave her, my dear friend," said I, "in the hands of Him who sees
deeper into the heart than it is possible for our eyes to penetrate.
Her feet have left the soft, flowery ways they trod for a time, and
turned into rough paths, where every footfall is upon sharp stones;
but it may be that a blessed land is smiling beyond, he has been
astray in the world, and God may only be leading her homeward by the
way of sorrow."
Mrs. Floyd wept freely as I talked.
"His will be done," she said, sobbing.
"Your daughter," said I, taking the occasion to bear my testimony on
the favorable side, "has been wronged without question. She was
doubtless imprudent, but not sinful; and the present attempt to
disgrace her I regard as a cruel wrong. It will recoil, I trust, in
a way not dreamed of."
"O Doctor, let me thank you for such words."
And Mrs.
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