“What makes you say all-powerful? Haven't you seen time and time again when good didn't prevail against evil, and don't you suppose He'd have helped it if He could? And why do you call Him all-wise? Is it because men are no-wise? That wouldn't prove it, would it? And about the miracles, what does a miracle prove? Does it prove that the person who does it is of God, or just that faith is stronger than reason in those who think it's happened?” “But sin: do you think there's such a thing?” Nancy pursued. “There you are, catechizing _me_ again! Yes, I think there's sin, because I've known it in myself, if I haven't in others.” “And what is it--sin?” “Well, Nancy, it seems to vary according to the time and place. But I should say it was going against what you knew was right at the time being.” “And do you always know?” “Always!” the old man answered solemnly. “I never was mistaken in my life, whether I went for or against it, and I've done both.” The woman drew a hapless sigh. “Yes, I reckon it's so.” Braile was putting out his stick to help himself in rising, after the silence she let follow. She came from it, and reached a staying hand toward him. “And supposin'--supposin'--there was a woman--that there was a woman, and her husband left her, and he kept away years and years, till she thought he was dead, and she married somebody else, and then he come back, would it be a sin for her to keep on with the other one when she knowed the first one was alive?” “I reckon that's what would be called a sin, Nancy. Not that I'd be very quick to condemn her--” “And supposin' that the first one hadn't claimed her yet, and she'd made the other one leave her, and then the first one come and wanted her to join him in the wickedest thing that ever was, and she wasn't as strong as she had been, and she felt to need the protection-like of the other one: would it be a sin for her to take him back?” Braile made again as if to rise. “I reckon you'd better talk to Mis' Braile about a thing like that. You see, a man--” She stayed him again with a beseeching gesture. “Squire Braile, do you believe that God is good?”