And William admitted that he would not.
After that he even put the matter to his wife "Martha, you're a
sensible woman, I'd like to ask you about a case." "Oh, well," said
Martha simpering, "I don't pretend to any very great wisdom, but I do
know something about sickness."
"This isn't sickness; it's about a child. Do you think a child is
susceptible to the influence of an older person who is not of the
highest character? If, for instance, the mother was--not good, do you
suppose a child would be injured?"
"Not good?" said Martha, horrified. "Oh, William' Somebody in Upper
Chester, I suppose?"
"But she is a devoted mother; you couldn't be more conscientious
yourself. So do you think her conduct could do any harm to a child?"
"Oh, Willy! A child in the care of a bad woman? Shocking!"
"Not bad--not bad--" he said faintly.
"Most shocking! Of course a child would be susceptible to such
influences."
William drew arabesques on the table-cloth with his fork, "Well, I
don't know--" he began, "I know!" said Martha, and began to lay down the law. For if
Martha prided herself upon anything, besides her common sense, it was
the correctness of her views upon the training of children. But she
stopped long enough to say, "William, please! the table-cloth." And
William put his fork down.
He thought of his wife's words very often in the next few days. He
thought of them when David stood rattling the knob of the dining-room
door, and saying "Maggie says please come and see Mrs. Richie." He
thought of them as Jinny pulled him slowly up the hill.
Sarah was lying in wait for him at the green gate. Maggie had sent for
him, she said; and having put the responsibility where it belonged,
she gave him what information she could. Mrs. Richie wasn't well
enough to see her brother before he went away on the stage; she
wouldn't eat any breakfast, and she looked like she was dead. And when
she (Sarah) had given her a note from Mr. Pryor, she read it and right
afterwards kind of fainted away like. An' when she come to, she
(Sarah) had said, "Don't you want the doctor?" An' Mrs. Richie said
"No." "But Maggie was scared, Dr. King; and she just sent David for
you."
"Quite right," said William King, "Let Mrs. Richie know I am here."