"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain."-- Rotha stared at the words first, as if they had risen out of the ground to confront her; and then put both hands to her face. For there was conflict again; her whole soul in a tumult of resistance and rebellion. Let her aunt do her this wrong! But there it stood written--"That ye resist not evil." "O why, thought Rotha, why may not evil be resisted? And people _do_ resist it, and go to law, and do everything they can, to prevent being trampled upon? Must one let oneself be trampled upon? Why? Justice should be done; and this is not justice. I wish Mrs. Mowbray would come in, that I might ask her! I do _not_ understand it." At the moment, as if summoned by her wish, Mrs. Mowbray tapped at the door; she wanted to get something out of a closet in that room, and apologized for disturbing Rotha. "You are not disturbing--O Mrs. Mowbray, are you _very_ busy?" cried the girl. "Always busy, my dear," said the lady pleasantly. "I am always busy. What is it?" "Nothing--if you are _too_ busy," said Rotha. "I am never too busy when you want my help. Do you want help now?" "O very much! I can_not_ understand things." "Well, wait a moment, and I will come to you." Rotha straightened herself up, taking hope; set a chair for Mrs. Mowbray, and received her with a face already lightened of part of its shadow of care. "It is this, Mrs. Mowbray. I was looking, as you told me, to see what I ought to do; and look here,--I came to this:--'That ye resist not evil.' Why? Is it not right to resist evil?" "Read the passage; read the whole passage, to the end of the chapter." Rotha read it; the verses she had been studying, and then, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy: but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:"--Rotha read on to the end of the chapter. "My dear," said Mrs. Mowbray then, "do you think you could love your enemies and pray for them, if you were busy fighting and resisting them?" "I do not know," said Rotha. "Perhaps not. I do not think it would be easy any way."