You could not offend her for me; that is not likely." The child was cut to the heart by the sadness and humility of words of whose studied artifice she had no suspicion.
She thought that she seemed to him ungrateful and selfish, and yet all the mooring-ropes that held her little boat of life to the harbor of its simple religion seemed cut away, and she seemed drifting helpless and rudderless upon an unknown sea.
"I never did do wrong--that I know," she said, timidly, and lifted her eyes to his with an unconscious appeal in them.
"But--I do not see why it should be wrong to speak with you.

You are good, and you lend me beautiful things out of other men's minds that will make me less ignorant: Our Lady could not be angry with that--she must like it." "Our Lady ?--oh, poor little simpleton!--where will her reign be when Ignorance has once been cut down root and branch ?" he thought to himself: but he only answered,-- "But whether she like it or not, Bebee ?--you beg the question, my dear; you are--you are not so frank as usual--think, and tell me honestly ?" He knew quite well, but it amused him to see the perplexed trouble that this, the first divided duty of her short years, brought with it.
Bebee looked at him, and loosened her hand from his, and sat quite still.
Her lips had a little quiver in them.
"I think." she said at last, "I think--if it _be_ wrong, still I will wish it--yes.

Only I will not tell myself it is right.

I will just say to Our Lady, 'I am wicked, perhaps, but I cannot help it' So, I will not deceive her at all; and perhaps in time she may forgive.

But I think you only say it to try me.